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

Give me the PEAS, please!

MMMmmm, peas!

Jack has been eating rice cereal for a few weeks now. What to Expect the First Year suggests waiting until babies are four months before introducing any type of solids. I decided to go against my baby-raising bible when I realized Jack was drooling when I would cook dinner, still hungry after 6 ounces of formula, and almost sitting up on his own at 3 months. I guess some babies do things on their own time, right? So, last week I ventured into homemade baby food --- and Jack got his first try of my creation --- PEAS! He was all smiles after his first few bites.

Baby food is really, really hard for me. I'm such a clean freak. And, feeding a baby mooshy peas is anything but glamorous. If Jack is over his food, he'll do this cry/spit out attack move that covers him and me with baby slobber and food. Yum! I decided I'm going to strip him down to almost nothing and feed him, at least until more food gets into his mouth than on the bib.

It has been fun experimenting with making my own baby food. Why would anyone pay so much for the little packaged baby food when it's cheaper and healthier to make your own? So far I've made homemade baby peas and carrots. I have big plans for the future once we're settled in our house and I have a new kitchen to cook in! Watch out, Gerber!

Thanks for the new grub, Mom!

Get these stinkin' peas of my face...NOW, please?

Happy 4 Month Birthday, Jack!

I can't believe I'm saying this: Jack is four months old!

Milestones: Jack has figured out rolling - both ways! Sometimes we go into his nursery and find him comfortably laying on his side to sleep! He can roll over from his tummy to his back, and from his back to his tummy. He doesn't do it often, but he knows how. He has the most adorable giggle. It's more like a "hhhhuuuuhhhhhaaa" grunt than a "ha ha ha" usual giggle, but we love it all the same. We can usually get him to giggle by changing his diaper, peering over him while he's playing away at his gym, or when we give him raspberry kisses on his tummy. Adorable!

Weight: Huge? He's probably over 15 pounds would be my guess. His last "official" weigh in was months ago and he was pushing over 13 pounds. Whenever a stranger peers over his carseat and asks how old, we usually get "wow, he's big". Yes, we know! I'm glad I have a chubber butt.

Diaper size: Size 2. I have boxes and boxes of this size, so I'm hoping he stays in them for awhile...

Clothes size: 3-6 months for most clothes; some jammies we're bumping up to 6-9 months so his little tootsies have room. He's got some big feet! He has a huge wardrobe of 3-6 month winter clothes that we're trying to make sure he wears. I'm excited for his 6-12 month wardrobe that's filled with plaid shorts and polos.

Sleep: We have a champion sleeper on our hands, and we're crossing our fingers it continues? We put Jack down for bed around 8, he wakes up cooing around 6 or 6:30, and then naps until about 8 or so. We did, however, decide to change up our schedule one night last week and instead of putting him to bed around 8, we tried around 7. STUPID mommy and daddy! Jack was up every few hours and my aunt said he ate and ate at daycare the next day. Lesson learned...if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Favorite activities/things: Gym, cuddling with mom and dad, getting kisses from Maggie, getting his diaper changed, bath time and being naked.

Eating: We're onto solids, people! Jack chows down on rice cereal. We've even ventured into homemade baby food. His first adventure: peas! They are nice and green, and I've discovered the amazing Dreft stain remover this week. He's still trying to figure out what this whole solid food stuff is, but it's pretty cute! Otherwise, he's eating about 6 oz of formula every 3 hours.

Nicknames: Big man, Buddy, Booger, stinky butt, "yaaack", Baby Jack Ribs, I'm sure there are more...

Talking: just babbles. He's a chatter bug, though, which I love!

New adventures: Solids, rolling, babbling.

Eric and I are really enjoying this stage of babyhood. He's fun-loving, playful, and genuinely excited to see us! We can toss him up in the air without being afraid of him not being able to control his own head. We can usually figure out what each whimper and cry means, and we've figured out a perfect team routine. It's amazing that we just get to enjoy our little booger together.

We love you little {well more like big} man.

One week from today...

One week from today we will be finishing up packing our little lives into perfectly organized and labeled u-haul boxes...for the last time.

One week from today we will spend our last night sleeping in this little apartment that we've called home for the last two years. No longer will we be seconds away from all of the West Des Moines amenities we are used to. Good-bye Tan World, Maximum Fitness, Super Target, and Kum 'n' Go up the street.

One week from today we will say goodbye to Jack's first home. The place we vowed would never be too cluttered with baby stuff {yeah, right}! The place we put our feet up after our three-day stay at the hospital after having our little man. The place where we figured out how to be a mommy and a daddy for the first time.

One week from today I will be the newest member of the Waukee community. I will be literally seconds away from my school, a jump across the street away from a perfect little city park, and a skip and a hop away from some great friends.

One week from today we will sign the paperwork and grab onto that little keychain of keys. We will nail the very first nail, hang the very first towel, and light the very first fire in a brand new house that we'll soon make our home.

{My pathetically wonderful new stash of Bath and Body Works goodies!}

I'm looking forward to perfectly spotless and cushiony carpet and fresh paint. I can't wait for my very own garage stall to park my Venza in. I can't wait to sink to my nose in a big, gigantic bubble bath. I can't wait to put together all of the new furniture and decorations we've searched for and picked out over the last few months. I can't wait for guests to have their own room and bathroom to stay. But most of all, I can't wait to finally have a place we'll call home --- forever.

What is Love?

Love is...

...getting butterflies when 5:00 hits. That means Eric will be home soon! I stare at the clock, play peek-a-boo with Jack, and wait patiently for his arrival. After 10 years of being together...I'm still so much in love with Eric.

...the gigantic smile I get when I get close to Jack. Whether it's 6 am and he's waking up in his crib, or when he's just playing in his gym and I peer over him from the top -- there's nothing better than his big smile. I've waited for the day that he recognizes me...his mommy.

...the big tail wiggles I get from Maggie when I walk in the door. Her little face lights up, her tail wiggles so fast, and sometimes she hyperventilates when I come home! She smothers me with kisses for several minutes as I am running around.

...having the best friends in the world. I have a perfect little group of go-tos who are there when I need them, and there when I don't. They understand everything about me -- from my terrible phone answering/call back habits to my blunt and obnoxious stories =). It used to be about how many people came, now it's all about who's there.

...walking into my classroom after a week-long break with an ear infection, and the kids are quiet and respectful! I wrote a simple note on my board "my ear hurts =(" and the kids totally acknowledged that. In one class, a student who's labeled a 'trouble maker' read aloud the directions for me and helped get class started. In another, a student quieted down class for me and got all of the students listening and paying attention.

...waking up everyday excited for what's to come. I'm thankful for my family, my friends, my job, and my life!

I am so blessed.

"Wherever your heart is, that is where you'll find your treasure." Paulo Coelho

Before...

It's amazing how one little man can change a life so much.

It's almost hard to remember life before baby. I remember wanting to wait to have a baby until we were ready...and our lives finally got to the boredom point. The point where going out wasn't much fun anymore, our careers were set and stable, and most of our friends were getting married and having babies of their own. When going to the mall wasn't about people watching for bad outfits or purses, but stroller searching for cute little ones and being envious of baby bumps.

Before Jack,
I would drag myself out of bed for yet another day. I wasn't greeted by a cooing, smiling baby waiting for a cuddle. I wasn't rushing out of work to drive as fast as I could to Jack's daycare. My focus was work and Eric- to be the best teacher and wife I could be. I'm glad I focused on those two things for several years. Now, I can focus on being a mom.

Before Jack,
Eric and I would work on the plans for the next weekend...that's about as 'in advance' as it got. We looked forward to visitors and nights out with friends. We spent all week trying to plan to fill up our days off. Now, we're not sure what a day off would look like. We talk all day long about coos, feedings, and diapers. We lay on our apartment floor covered in burp rags and bright, colorful, noisy baby toys oodling our little creation. We're almost more content when there aren't any plans for the coming weekend...

Before Jack,
I would run around every day and night looking for things to buy, do, and work on. I was so selfish! It was always about a new outfit, a haircut and highlight, or a new Coach purse. Now, Jack looking cute totally overrides myself. I'm due for a new haircut, I just forget to call to make an appointment. I haven't even thought about a new purse - my diaper bag is what I carry most of the time. And, I hardly go to the mall and pick something up for me to wear! And, that's just the way I want it. Instead of Gap, I'm rushing to baby Gap. Instead of swinging into Loft, I'm pushing a stroller through Pottery Barn Kids.

I remember watching new moms before I was one myself. I remember wondering how they did it all. How were they both a mom and a wife? How did they manage work, baby, husband, friends, cleaning? How could they not spend every waking second with their little. Now, I understand. Priorities change...for the better. It all falls into place. Everything that's meant to be, happens. Everything that doesn't matter is washed away by something more important. And that something more important is usually the adorably amazing little man you see at the top of this post...

A new baby is like the beginning of all things -
wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities.
Eda J. Le Shan