Terrific Ten Months

(he was making silly faces so it was really hard to get him to smile!)

here we are. in the double digits. insane. in 2 months he will be 1 year old. i know i say this every single month, but time truly is flying. sometimes i still can't believe that i'm a mom with a little one entering the toddler phase. i mean, its what i've always wanted & dreamed of & now that i'm living it, it almost seems to good to be true. every month is more & more fun with Jack. i think this past month has been my favorite. (i know, i say that every month!!!) He has learned more & more about what it means to be a toddler. i really think he'll be walking by the time he turns one. he's just made so much progress in the past month. what a blessing it is to be his momma. i seriously can't think of anything i'd rather be doing. being mom is hard, trying, exhausting & super sacrificial but none of that compares to the feeling i get when i walk in his room & see him standing up in his crib reaching for me & smiling. be still my heart. aaaahhh. pure bliss is what i feel in my role as Jack's mom. I just praise the Lord b/c He knew that i needed Jack in my life, He always knows what is best for His children. Thank you Lord, for the sweet blessing of our little Jack.

Precious Boy,

you are so special to us. we love you more & more every single day. we have loved every minute with you & we are so excited to watch you grow & learn. we are thankful for your sweet, content spirit. already, you are showing us signs of your imagination & creativity. when we lay you down for a nap, you will just sit in your crib & talk, giggle, crawl, pull up, babble & gaze around the room without shedding a tear before you finally fall asleep. you have learned so much lately. you can now pull up on just about anything & you are crawling all over this house. we are just having so much fun with you. you have the sweetest smile that just lights up a room. you love for mom, dad or lola to walk in the room; you just get so excited & start squirming to get to us. we praise the Lord for you everyday & we are so excited to experience every new stage with you!! happy 10 months sweet boy. we love you!

you LOVE:

* bananas, spaghetti (you tried this for the 1st time this month), yogurt, apple juice, sweet potatoes, pickles, orange juice (you've only tried this twice), french fries, bagels, fruit loops & so much more

* crawling all over our house. we have to keep the doors closed to all the rooms b/c you will go in there & get into stuff.

* lola's water bowl. you've discovered it & now all you want to do is knock it over & splash in the puddle you've created on the floor! you're so cute, even if you make a giant mess!

* the refrigerator. for some reason you just can't get enough. you always crawl over to it & want to grab our colorful letter magnets or look at all the pictures.

* dad's collectible ninja turtle figurines. (yes, daddy is still a little boy in some ways!) dad has them in his office on top of a dresser. every time you go in that room, you notice them & you just get so excited! you start smiling, giggling & squirming to get to them. you just want to stare at them & touch them. its so funny

* playing in your crib. we can put you in there in the mornings if we need a little more sleep & you are just so content to play, talk, giggle & pull up on the railings. you don't even need any toys in there! but we give you some anyways. nap times are no problem, you just play until you get sleepy. we are so thankful for such a happy baby.

* your big boy car seat. you are still rear facing but you love that you are sitting up now. you look out the window & just babble away.

* your ball. you just got 2 of them this past month & you love to roll them back & forth to us. you just get the biggest kick out of it

* bath time. this is still your very favorite. you just splash away & get fussy when we get you out of the tub

* your bouncy seat. you could sit in that thing all day long & bounce till your legs fall off. its the best $30 we've ever spent!

You aren't too crazy about:

* getting your diaper changed or changing clothes. you are far too busy to pause life for 3 minutes to get either of these things done!

* when mom or dad leave the room. you are still dealing with some separation issues. but thats normal & okay with us. we love that you love us so much.

* when all of your food is gone. you just get so mad! we can't help but crack up. sorry!

* green beans & oranges. you just don't want to have anything to do with them

you are still wearing 6 month size clothing & a size 3 diaper. you are starting to be able to wear a few things that are 9 month size. you're getting close to 19 or 20 lbs. we just can't believe how much you've grown these past 10 months. love you boo boo!

15 weeks!!!!!

yippee!!! i am finally in the 2nd trimester with this baby & i am feeling soooo much better. the first 12 weeks is super rough & to be honest, i didn't think i would make it. i mean, all day nausea, everyday of the week plus motion sickness equals NO fun. i really don't think men could handle this!!! but i am finally at a point where the nausea has subsided & i'm feeling really good! the cravings have already started. lately, i've been wanting some chips & salsa and broccoli cheese soup like nobody's business. but i've also been very emotional lately. by nature, i'm not an extremely emotional girl, only when it comes to jack. but when i'm pregnant, its like someone opened up the flood gates! commercials, news stories, blogs, children, holidays, jack's milestones and even this little one i'm carrying have all made me shed a few (understatement!!) tears. i know my hubby thinks i'm crazy. i told him i wish so badly that he could just experience the real ups & downs of pregnancy for just one week. he wouldn't think i was so cooky after that!!!

in all honesty, he's been really supportive. he's picked up some of my slack with the housework & gone the extra mile to help me with jack. he's even given me a few, much needed, foot rubs!! i guess there are a few perks of pregnancy!!! j/k i really do love this experience. i should start feeling this baby in the next 2 weeks & i'm super excited about that. its so much fun. and in 4 weeks, we have the BIG ultrasound (gulp) to find out the sex of the baby & make sure that everything looks good. for those of you who have never experienced this, its both exhilarating & terrifying. its so fun to see your sweet little one & finally know the gender but its also the point when you can find out if your baby has any major health problems. i'm already covering this day in prayer. but i have a peace from the Lord, either way.

we've also picked out our little bean's name!! if its a boy, we're going with Henry Jude. he will go by Jude. if its a girl, Jovie Claire. we both really love these names & we can't wait to be able to call this baby either one. here's what baby J is up to these days:

*Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple).

*He/She is busy moving amniotic fluid through their nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in his/her lungs begin to develop.

*His/Her legs are growing longer than their arms now, and baby can move all of it joints and limbs. Although baby's eyelids are still fused shut, he/she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, baby is likely to move away from the beam.

*There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but baby is forming taste buds.

He's Off!!!

i am so very excited to announce: JACK IS CRAWLING!!!!!! can you tell that we are pumped?! we've known it was coming really soon. he's been rocking back & forth on his knees, crawling backwards & even crawling forward a few times before stopping. but today, while i was babysitting, he saw a toy he wanted & he just took off across the room like it was nothing. i was so excited. i immediately called the hubs to tell him about our little genius & his new moves!

he is still a little slow at it, he hasn't quite figured out that he can just blaze around the house yet. but if he sees a toy or me across the room, he just crawls on over & grabs it. i love to see him get excited & work for something. he's so proud of himself. and i really love that he crawls on over to me & tugs on my leg so that i'll pick him up. aaahhh. be still my heart. that kid just melts me.

great job Jack!! we are sooo proud of you!! enjoy the adventure!

Alabama BBQ Chicken

this is my all time favorite chicken marinade. i'm telling you its delish. like its ridiculous. trust me. my dad has been making this for years & once i got married i just had to bring this little gem of a recipe with me. its super simple & the ingredients are pretty much things you have in your pantry or fridge. the chicken turns out so juicy & oh so yummy!!! please try it, you won't regret it!!!

Ingredients:
* 1 cup mayo
* 4 tbsp white distilled vinegar
* 3 tbsp lemon juice
* 2 tbsp sugar
* 1 tbsp salt
* 1 tbsp pepper

thats it! just throw all these ingredients together in a gallon size storage baggy. then seal the bag & shake it or use your hands to mix it well. next, throw in your chicken breast. i use 2-4 chicken breasts, depending on how hungry we are or if i want leftovers! then toss it in the fridge & let it marinade. the longer it sits, the better it will be. then grill it up!! the hubs & i don't have an outdoor grill so we just use our griddle. (the one that sits on a countertop & you plug-in). i usually grill it for about 7 minutes then flip it & grill for 7 more minutes. be sure to leave the top on the griddle while grilling. keep the marinade. b/c each time you flip the chicken, spoon some of the marinade over the top. this keeps the chicken juicy & it adds a lot of flavor. after 14 minutes of grilling, check the chicken to see if its done. if so, enjoy!!! here's another yummy tip. if you like goat cheese ( we LOVE it!) then once the chicken is done cooking, top it with some goat cheese & allow it to soften or melt on top. trust me, it adds an incredible flavor to it. i took a big risk & tried it one time, now we do it every time we make this dish. if you don't like goat cheese, too bad for you!! you could try something else! please let me know if you try this! i'm curious if everyone will love it like me !
p.s. i am a big mayo hater!! i don't eat it on anything. so i was very worried the first time i tried this. i thought it would just taste like mayo chicken. but it doesn't. i promise. it taste amazing.

Nifty Nine Months

9 months has come & gone so very fast. i can't believe that we'll be celebrating his 1st birthday in 3 months. crazy. we are loving every minute of being with him. He is such a sweet little joy.

Sweet Boy,

mommy & daddy can't believe that you are getting so big!! you're already 9 months old. you're growing up so fast, we just want you to stay little forever! you have been so much fun this past month. you've learned to do so many new things & everyday you discover something fun & exciting! we are so proud of you & the little person you're becoming. this month was extra special b/c we had your baby dedication! i can't wait to post about that. you're such a special little boy & we love you more than anything in this world!!!

here are some fun things you're doing this month:

* you are SO close to crawling. you get up on your knees & rock back & forth. or you crawl forward one little step & then move back 2 or 3 steps!! you want soo badly to get up & go!!

* you love to sit in your high chair now. you look so big in it.

* you love fruit loops, pancakes, apples, french fries, real whole green beans, bananas, shortbread cookies, sweet potatoes & vanilla wafers

* you love using a sippie cup & you've gotten really good at it!

* you still love that bouncy chair

* you've put yourself on a great little schedule. you're napping 2xce a day for over an hour each time

* you go to bed between 7-7:30 each night & you sleep till 6 or 7 the next morning

* you are finally in a size 3 diaper, although they are still a little big for you

* you can still wear some size 3-6 months & 6 months clothing. but you can also wear some things that are size 9 months.

* you love to sit up in your stroller or in a shopping cart & look around

* you love to sit in the bath tub & splash, splash, splash!

* you put EVERYTHING in your mouth. we have to really be careful about what is around you now

* you move really quickly by rolling, scooting or crawling (almost)

* you went on your 3rd vacation to Gatlinburg & you did so well. you're quite the little traveler!!

* your new favorite game is to pick up stuff & drop it. you do this over & over & over.

you don't like:

* for mom or dad to leave the room

* when you don't get a full nap

* cheerios

* squash. which is weird b/c you loved it the past couple of months

* pureed baby food vegetables

* when you can't figure out a toy

* when we take something away from you

* the vacuum cleaner. you've become really scared of it

* when people laugh. you get so scared. we think its kinda funny. but the sudden outburst of noise seems to bother you. bless your heart.

you are such a happy little boy. everyone always asks me if you are always so calm & sweet. and you really are, everyday with you is a blessing! we're so excited about the next few months with you as you turn 1 & we enter the holiday season. and of course, we can't wait for you to be a big brother soon! we love you more with every passing day. everything we do is for you. happy 9 months boogey, we love you!!!

Etsy is the Besty!

so. i am still behind on my blogging. we've been taking pictures like crazy so i've been lazy & not uploaded them yet. i will do that, for sure, this weekend. but for now i wanted to post about my new love affair with Etsy. it is incredible. i don't know if you've ever been there, but you should check it out. there is a whole world of great stuff for every single occasion or just for your home. i've been really itching with Christmas spirit lately, so i headed over to Etsy the other day to browse. i wanted to share one of my finds!!

isn't this adorable?!!! i'm in love with it. its my custom made Christmas tag! LOVE it!

i found these & i just couldn't believe the deal that i got!! only one of them came with ribbon, but i'm wishing now that i had ordered the rest of them like that. o well, i can always go to Michael's & pick up some ribbon & do it myself. if you look closely, you can see that the cardstock is embossed with different patterns. amazing. i can't wait to use these this year. i'm thinking i'm gonna head back over there & order some regular tags that i can use year round as gift tags. yay!!

ok. now let me give you some info on how you can get these yourself. first let me give a BIG shout out to Sally. she is the fab lady who makes these adorable little tags! she has her very own etsy shop called Your Shop Name Here. its adorable. go there to find all the different tags that she makes. now, the good part. you can get 25 of these tags for $6.50!! uhhmazing. but i went ahead & splurged. i got 50 for $13!! i mean, now thats a great deal people. i'll be able to use these for awhile. she's been so helpful. you literally pick everything. the font, font color, graphic, wording, cardstock color, embossing on cardstock & she gives the option of buying them as hang tags. i ordered them yesterday & talked with her a few times. she had an example ready for me just hours later & she even shipped them today. now that is super service! i'll definitely be ordering from her again! so please, go here & check out her cute little shop! tell her audrey sent you! if you don't already have a free account with etsy, then just set one up. i believe you may also need a PayPal account. Thanks, Sally!!

Happy Shopping Ya'll!!

i LOVE them

i know. i still have like 4 posts to catch up on, but right now i'm not at home. i'm babysitting 2 kiddos plus Jack. 2 of them are napping & one is watching Dora. (yes, i'm that good!) so i just wanted to share a pic of 2 of my favorite people on planet earth. they are too cute together & i can't wait for baby #2 to join all of us so soon! i am blessed. jack & i can't wait to get home to ben this afternoon! thank you Lord for my 2 boys!! i heart them.

Little Update

life has been crazy busy lately. Jack is now 9 months old, we've been to youth camp, had Jack's baby dedication, discussed & pretty much picked out our baby's name & so much other stuff that you wouldn't find interesting. i have Jack's 9 month picture, camp pictures & baby dedication pictures all to post. i just need to sit & upload them from my camera. i should have done it by now but i've just been super tired & nauseated since we got home from our trip on friday.

Also, i am 12 weeks pregnant today!!! Praise the Lord!!! hopefully, this means goodbye to the yucky no fun part & hello blessed 2nd trimester!! this part is my fave. i feel better, look better, have a better attitude, start feeling the baby & we get to find out the sex next month! we're really excited about that!!! we've picked out a girl name that we both love. we've also picked out a middle name for a boy (the name that he will go by) but we're still deciding on his first name. once we make a decision, i'll share both names. we also decided that since there is a big chance that i'll go through some blood pressure problems, we are going to be completely prepared for this baby by the time i hit week 30. we're going to tackle the nursery, complete jack's room, register, pack hospital bags & complete all paperwork so that we aren't stressed about anything should i get put on bed rest. i know week 30 seems far away, but it isn't. at all. it will go fast! so we have a lot to do very soon. but we're so excited!


once i get home tonight, i'll try to post Jack's 9 month picture! happy monday!!