Summer Has Begun!

The sun was shining bright, Jack was in a way good mood, and our only agenda for the day was to test out a brand new baby bug floatie at the pool. It was Jack's very first trip to the pool. And...it was a success! Oh man, he absolutely loved the water, being outside, and napping on my towel as I soaked in the golden rays of sunshine.

It really wasn't hard to get us packed for the pool. All I needed was a towel, and I basically packed a 'waterproof' diaper bag of sorts for Jack's things. When we first got there, I went straight for the water. It was ABSOLUTELY freezing. My first step in took my breath away; I was scared for Jack's reaction. Slowly, we made it to the point where his little feet were in the water, too.

Jack's reaction? A big, huge sigh, a squinty "biz face" as we always see, and then a big ol' smile as he started splashing away! He almost fell out of my arms because I think he thought it was a giant bathtub and he was ready to play! He absolutely had a blast in the water. I put him on his little bumble bee float and we floated, splashed, kicked, and giggled for almost a half-an-hour.

After that, Jack played with some toys on the chair while I just relaxed and enjoyed the sun. Eventually he fell right asleep, and we spent more than 2 hours just hanging out.

I was pretty proud of my sunblock/baby covering up skills, as I got a little burnt, and Jack looked just like before - white as Casper the ghost.

It now feels like summer has begun. All those days in the pool with a little "baby Krieger" in my belly must have paid off. Once a fish, always a fish.



It also feels a little more like summer because our sod has grown roots and is more like real grass everyday =) After a stroll through Valley Junction Farmer's Market yesterday, we plopped our happy little Jack in the grass when we got home. He fiddled, pulled, and chewed on grass for what seemed like forever! Who needs toys when you have grass. The neighbors came and chatted and we enjoyed a wind-less evening outdoors. (We live way out in the "middle of nowhere" for now, until more houses are built in the development, so it's really windy here!)

He could have sat and played for hours!

Yep...he's eating the grass. Boys will be boys?!

He's looking up because the sprinkler got him! =)

I am excited for bonfires with friends and neighbors -- we love our neighbors already! I can't wait for more sun shiny days at the pool with Jack's buddy, Quinn. I can't wait for these wonderful summer days when we stay in pajamas until lunchtime, snuggle for an afternoon nap, and do nothing but enjoy our time together.

Cheers to summer everyone! Glad I'm a teacher =)

A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken. ~James Dent

Jack's 6 Month Pictures!

We had Jack's 6 month pictures last weekend. I requested for them to be outside, just for a change. Although, I didn't realize Jack had never been on or around grass before...

We have just-laid sod, so he can't be on it yet. He loves to be outside so far, so I figured it would be no problem.

Well, I thought wrong! As soon as we plopped his butt in the grass he was MAD. Not just unhappy, MAD! He screamed and cried for the remainder of the session. I am so glad he was happy for the family photos, and that our amazing photographer, Jennifer Waters, was able to capture some good ones even with his grumpy butt!

Here they come...

TEETH!!!!!

Well...we've been anxiously awaiting the arrival of this little milestone in Jack's life: teething. Since he was 2 month old we've watched, felt around, and prepared for little pearly whites in Jack's mouth. A few months later and he's still a mouth full of gums. However, everything has quickly taken a turn for the worse, and we're watching the rough little boogers pop out of his gums a little more each day.

It started with my first day of summer. Jack was happy and content. He can sit for hours, so he easily entertains himself as long as there are lots of toys around him. I wrote a 4 page paper for grad. class before it was due, I finished and put away all the laundry, and I organized cupboards and drawers {my specialty!}. Summer at it's finest. Thursday was my perfect little glimpse into stay-at-home-mommyhood...and it was quite amazing.

Friday rolls along...

....Jack's crying. Jack has a really, really, really runny nose. Jack poops three (which seemed more like a hundred) awful, nasty diapers. Jack's crying some more. Jack naps like ten times in a matter of a few hours...

Where did my perfect summer vacation go? So quickly it was ripped out from underneath me!

The only thing keeping me going, and rocking, and cooing, and entertaining --- it must be teeth. So, I attempt to keep him happy, feed him tylenol every few hours, and hold a teething ring and a pacifier near me at all times. {All of which don't really help much...Jack's still fussy.} But, I can feel the rough edges of two bottom teeth. At least I can blame all of this on teething!

You thought that was the worst of it...think again. One of my good friends was getting married Friday night. And, the wedding was back in Waterloo - a two hour drive. And, Eric had taken too many days off work {for his grandpa's funeral}, so he couldn't come back with me!

So Friday went like this:

Attempting to pack enough for myself and a very unhappy baby.
A juggling act to try and make Jack at least content.
A struggle just to get a few ounces of formula down my normally starving dude.
A 2 hour car ride by myself with a crying, teething baby.
A cram session at Autumn's: I had to get dressed, I fed Jack, we chit-chatted.
A swing into the gas station - because of course I hadn't remembered a card.
Finally, landing at Steph and Nick's wedding. WHEW!

Within minutes Jack was fussy. I stood the entire ceremony -- and I couldn't begin to tell you what the reverend said. I can tell you that Jack highly enjoyed playing with a fake Christmas tree in the back of the room :) Thank goodness for lots of friends and family who held on to Jack, rocked him, and played with him in attempts to entertain him!

Not only am I hating this teething thing...I found a new admiration for single moms! I don't know how you do it :)


Dear Teeth:

We're ready for you. We long for our happy, sleeping, eating, cooing baby you've so quickly taken away from us. I am done driving to all three Walgreen's in the DSM area looking for teething tabs {recommended by expert mommy Mandy!}. And, I'm perfectly okay if you pop up and make your appearance! Thanks so much.

Sincerely,
Jack's Mom

{Maybe this will help my gums feel better?}

{Or maybe this?}

{How about I try this?}

{Or possibly this frozen cube of applesauce in a net will help?}

All of these pictures were taken in a matter of minutes. Poor Jack! Wish us luck...

Things I love...

...about our little family.

I love signing cards "Eric, Jenni & Jack". I have waited so long to add the "&..."

I love feeling complete. When it is just two out of the three of us, I feel like a little lost duckling. When its all three of us, no matter where we are or what we are doing, I feel complete. I love having a little family to belong to.

I love coming home to a smiling baby, a hard-working and loving hubby, and a sweet little Maggie who gives millions of kisses everyday.

I love tackling and documenting all the milestones. Having Jack has definitely taken the boredom out of life...and I love every busy little minute.

I love driving up to our house, as I pass the "We love our children, please drive slow" sign on the way. I love checking out our charlie brown maple trees and our newly laid sod. I love sitting on our deck and chatting with our friendly neighbors. I love petting all the doggies that come to visit Maggie. And, I love pushing that garage door opener button on my car. Something about that button reminds me this is my home. Our home.

There's nothing more special than having a family. Everything in life is just a little more special, a bit more exciting, and whole lot more fun. I can't wait to see what our future holds...and even more so I can't wait to spend every unplanned minute with my little man this summer. Watch out, pool, here we come!

I'll Never Forget...

Jack,
I was just flipping through pictures and stumbled upon a handful of photos from your first moments that I must have skipped over. How adorable is this?

I'll never forget...

...pushing two-and-a-half hours to get your big little body out of mine.

...the doctor saying "It's a boy!"

...your tiny fingers that seemingly instantaneously wrapped around mine.

...this adorable yawn.

...our first hours bonding -- as we learned how to tackle this new life together.

...the sweet little nurse who whispered in my ear "You're one luck girl. You have a beautiful new baby, and one of the best dad's we've ever seen." She came to check on you, even when it wasn't her room to take care of.

...your first bath, your first diaper change, your first toot, your first smile, your first yawn, and your first burp.

...sending you to the nursery because daddy thought we should both get some sleep. Well, he got some sleep. I stared at the clock counting down each minute until you'd be back in my room for your next feeding.

I love you, Jack, and I'll never forget the day you joined our world. By far the best day of my life.

Jack and Linc! =)

Our friends, Josh and Terra, had a little one about one month after we had Jack! We spend a day with the new family when little Lincoln had just arrived. At the time, it seemed like they would always be light-years away from each other. Jack was cooing and holding his head up, while Lincoln was a teeny-weeny newborn.

Now, however, at 5 and 6 months, they are pretty much right at the same point developmentally. It was such a blast to see the two together! =)

I felt bad for little Linc, though. Jack rolled over on top of him, eventually stuck his fingers in his mouth, and is a loudmouth, screaming, growling baby! Lincoln just smirked and watched along. Sometimes he'd talk, just a little. Adorable!

These two are going to be best buds :) :) :)

Happy 1/2 YEAR OLD Birthday, Jackson Charles!

Milestones: Well, reaching 6 months seems like quite the milestone to me! Jack is one half of a year old already. Where does the time go? He's also able to sit up like a big boy (but only for 10 minutes or so). Then, he's tumbling down. Jack really doesn't like to sit, he'd much rather be standing or walking with help. He has a very outgoing personality --- and is the loudest little baby I have ever seen! But I love it :)

Weight: 20 pounds-ish? We have his 6 month check up on Thursday so we'll see.

Diaper size: Sizes 2 and 3. He wears 3 at night, since he sleeps so long, but otherwise we're still using his last box of 2's. I am excited, though, because we bought our first pack of Target diapers -- and they are SO amazing. They are definitely not as soft as Pampers, but they definitely keep him dry at night. We were having covered-in-pee episodes almost every morning, and thanks to Up and Up (Target's brand), we've yet to have an uh-oh! {Thanks to all my mommy friends who gave me this advice!!!!}

Clothes size: 6-12 months depending on the brand. I've been buying both 6-12 and 12-18 month clothes at Baby Gap and they are definitely working. I've given up on reading the labels, and just glance at the clothes and know what size to buy. He's a big man :)

Sleep: 7:30 p.m. - 6:30 a.m.!!!! We have a good little sleeper on our hands. And, he takes a guaranteed nap from 12-3, and sometimes a little "Jack nap" like we call them in the morning. I hope he stays this way, since Eric and I can have "us" time at night.

Favorite activities/things: Hanging out with us, people watching, growling and flirting with bigger kids at daycare, and scooting.

Eating: EVERYTHING! He's definitely allergic to bananas, and I'm nervous he's not going to tolerate vitamin K like me -- but I'm still trying. He likes and eats everything! He also grabs and sucks on the little Gerber puffs already, too. It's adorable to watch. Right now he gets breakfast and dinner in baby food, followed by lots of bottles!

Nicknames: Still BOOGS! And Jack of course...

Talking: He says many vowel sounds, and is just starting to blow raspberries with his lips. No mama yet, but I heard a mmm so we're getting there!

New adventures: Scoot/crawling! He's starting to figure out he can get from one place to another...they grow up too fast!

6 months down, and 6 months closer to your 1st birthday, Jack. You light up our lives with your giggles, your squirms, and drool. I love snuggling, keeping up with you, and making you laugh. I love watching you give kisses to Maggie, dig your fingers through the carpet attempting to get it into your mouth, and when you play with Daddy.

Happy 6 months, Jack.

{Playing with one of his favorite toys! He's so determined to move all the little pieces}

{Jack has so many toys that I rotate them in shifts :) I can't stay out of the toy aisle!}

{Jack loves Maggie. Maggie LOVES Jack. She taught him how to give kisses!}

{Aunt Aud and Aunt Lex came to visit! =)}

{Jack's first "solid" food -- look at that face!}

I love being a teacher!

Last Friday, I went to my old school's 8th grade dance. I taught 7th graders last year, so I knew most of the 8th graders this year. It was a BlAsT!

I was nervous to go...would I remember any of them? Would they remember me? Would the other teachers wonder why I showed up? I worried for no reason, as it turned out to be a great time!

Some of my students from last year even had me in their professional photograph! I begged them not to have me, but they pleaded. :) Then, my friend and I joined the dance party as the students chanted "Go Krieger!"

After about a million hugs, a million "how's your baby, what's his name?" conversations, and a few snapped pictures, the night was quickly over. It was great to see my first students I ever taught. It was awesome having conversations with old co-workers. It was great to spend time with a few of my great friends I've made from teaching there. It was even better to know that those students had definitely not forgotten about me! Even if it meant giving up one of my last Friday nights before grad. school starts, and putting my big man to bed, it was worth it! I love teaching :)

{The adorable girl to the left was a trouble maker from k-6th grade. I somehow convinced her to become the best student she can be! Now, she hangs with a good group of girls, and is still doing very well in school -- no fights at all!}

My First Mohawk!

I always thought I'd want a little man with a mohawk -- a fake one anyway. Well, Jack's hair is growing in like crazy, and it's now long enough where I can pull off the most adorable baby mohawk. After Jack's bath the night before, I combed his hair into a pretend mohawk. When he woke up, it was still there! So, I gelled it and sent him stylin' to daycare! I think I like this little dude =)

{Mohawk round two -- this is what it looks like not gelled}

Dear Jack,

I love you.

It's been awhile since I've written you a little letter. Maybe it's because I'm so busy keeping up with you! Each day you are growing and changing into a little person; our little Jack. It's been so fun watching you learn new things. Everything starting from you being able to grip my one finger, to now picking up and exploring the world around you is absolutely adorable.

Now that you're almost six months old {gasp!}, I'm left to wonder what we did before you? I can't even imagine waking up without your chubby cheeks smiling away in your crib in the morning. I can't remember what it was like to not have bottles all over my house. I can't remember not spending all of my free time with you.

The other night, your dad and I watched "old" videos we snagged of you when you were a baby. It's funny, I was annoyed at the time at your dad for catching random, non-meaningful moments. Now, those moments are forever captured...and I'm so grateful. You look so tiny. Your little voice is so frail. We were so unsure of what we were doing. And yet, here we are, almost halfway to your first birthday already! I can't wait to enjoy the next six moths -- and more.

Thank you for helping me figure out this life a little more than before. Thank you for all of the drool, and for changing my focus to being less selfish. Thank you for spitting up just as much on daddy's shoulder as you do mine, and for giving me a perfect reason to go shopping. I love your giggle, I love your serious face, and I love that you're picky at who you smile at. You soak in this little life already; staring and pondering each new room we explore together -- every inch of it.

Your daddy and I are so proud of you already. We read to you, parade you around, and are trying our best to give you the best life you can have. I hope you appreciate your kiddie library. I hope you laugh as you look back on your life as a little -- through blog posts, thousands of pictures, and silly home videos of your every move. I hope you grow up to be caring, respectful, and patient...just like your dad.

Jack, there's something about you snuggling up on my chest when you're sleepy or working on those baby teeth that are sure to be arriving soon. There is truly no explanation about the way I feel about you, Jack. I love being a mom. I love being your mom.

I love you to the moon and back. I will love you forever and always.

Mom