CONGRATULATIONS REBECCA AND JOSH!

I just wanted to give a shout out to my cousin Rebecca and her soon to be husband (in 5.5 hours)!  They are getting married today in Jackson, TN.  Jake and I were supposed to be there, but since I haven't been feeling that great....we weren't able to make the long trip :-(  So, I'm really sad about that, but I definitely hope they have a wonderful WEDDING day - and I want them to know we are thinking about them and celebrating them from South Carolina :-)  Congratulations you two!  Have a REALLY special day!!! :-)

BIG NEWS!!

So, this is baby #2.  I had the first ultrasound this morning.  The good news is that I really like the doctor I saw (which is important for obvious reasons, but I had such a good experience in CA that I was a little nervous about having to start all over with new doctors, so that is a very good thing).  The better news is that there is only 1 baby in there :-)  The BEST news is that the heart beat sounds good....the baby was moving around a little bit....and the doctor said everything looked wonderful!!  YAY!  

Due Date:  Jan 1, 2010.  So, he/she could be born on my Dad's birthday, which is Jan 2 OR sometime in Dec (and that would make for a tax break for this year...haha).  My only hope is that the baby isn't born on Christmas Day, but healthy is really all I will ask for (well, and less than 25 hours of labor this time but long enough labor so there is time for an epidural) :-)  Those aren't too many requests, are they?!  The baby looks a lot like his big brother did at this age ;-)
And what does the Big Brother think about all of this????  Lets ask him!!

Tickle Monster

It looks like Jake is ticklish....just like his Daddy :-)

Interesting Fact ...

Here is a fact you may not know about me....I have a list of books that I actually want to read.  The problem is....anytime I sit down to read, I fall asleep.  I have never said, "That book was so good, I stayed up all night reading it" (like my Mom or my sister....even my sisters-in-law).  I can be reading a really good book, BUT I still fall asleep after a few pages, so I'm jealous of those that can read and NOT fall asleep.  HOWEVER, I have mastered reading children's books.  Jake loves for me to read him....and now that he babbles....he enjoys "reading" to me.  So, I realized the other day that I know A LOT of Jake's books by memory, and I collected all the ones that I could recite to you without even opening a page.  There are at least 13.  Here they are...

Rain Rain Go Away...

It has been raining here in SC for like....well, forever!!  We have only had 2 sunny days since we got back from VA 2 weeks ago.  So, Jake has spent a lot of time LOOKING outside at the rain and lining up those plastic bottles (I told you he loves plastic bottles)!!  I think the weather forecast will hopefully turn around soon.  It better, b/c Jake now grabs his shoes and walks to the door (how sad is that)?!  He even brought me MY shoes yesterday...:-)

Clever Quote

I was reading in Parenting Magazine this morning and found this quote.  I know I have many friends out there that can relate to this....or plenty of readers who have related to this in the past, I'm sure.  "One child is a lot of work.  You might think a second child would double the work, but he will quadruple it.  The third child multiplies it by 27.  A fourth child makes very little impact, possibly because you can't find him."  :-)  Anyway, it made me laugh.  

Very Smart, this kid!

Jake figured out how to turn ON the DVD player....and then proceed to figure out how to open/close it, which allowed for a fun game...until I really had to put an end to it.  This kid gets fascinated by the simplest things...he has a house full of toys, but for some reason....it's the little things like plastic bottles and DVD players.    

EARS....to hear - or not hear!

Jake has found his ears.  For the past few weeks, he sticks his fingers in his ears which appears he is trying to say he isn't listening, but I don't think he understands that concept yet.  Right now he does this simply because he realizes his ears have holes....so, right now - it's still cute! :-)

Showing off those molars

Jake now has 2 molars on top and 2 on bottom!!  He has 12 teeth total!  Wow!  I was able to actually capture a big smile at lunch today .... where he was showing off those bottom molars :-)

A Walk to the Mailbox

One of Jake's favorite things to do these days is walk to the mailbox....whether there is mail to pick up or not :-)  When we first started this, it would take a LONG while, but he's getting so much faster!  Usually Jake and me are the ones that go and get the mail, so he especially enjoyed himself when Daddy went with him yesterday evening after work!

REALLY Jake??

This is such a precious face, isn't it?  It's hard to believe that a face like this would be digging through the trash (that yes, has a CLOSED LID on top of it) to find some of his leftover eggs from breakfast.  Yes, you are reading that right.  We ate breakfast this morning - I threw out the little bit that he didn't eat.  We then went for our morning 3 mile walk in the neighborhood.  When we got back, I put him next to his toys and ran to the restroom - for like 3 seconds.  When I walked out, I heard SILENCE (never a good sign).  I walk in the living room - no Jake.  Then, I walk in the kitchen to find Jake holding the trashcan lid open with one hand and digging in and eating his LEFTOVER eggs with the other.  GROSS!!!  I mean, if he was hungry....he could've just asked :-)  haha!!  So, yes....the FACE is precious, but the boy can be very sneaky....  

Post-Graduation

This is Jake on the car ride home - passed out, which was good, b/c he needed to gain some energy for the party that would follow (and the many times up and down the hill with "Uncle" Ray while at the party) :-)  Thanks, Aunt Katy for graduating :-)  It was  FUN weekend!!

Graduation!!!!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS AUNT KATY!!!!!!!!  It was so fun to be a part of your special day - and we are so proud of you....and excited for you as you enter this next adventure in life!!

This is Aunt Katy getting her diploma....you can't see - BUT....this is when her name was called...and she was walking across to get her diploma - YAY!! :-)
                                                           The GRADUATE!!!!!!!!!!! :-)
                                                  Jake says he's not ready to graduate.....

Trip to David's Bridal

Jake was a good sport and went to David's Bridal with Mimi, Aunt Jul, and me.  He enjoyed crawling around in front of all of the mirrors and looked especially good in the veil (just kidding Chris)!! :-)  We went so that I could try on a couple of matron of honor dresses for Jul to see .... it's hard to believe the wedding is 4 months away from tomorrow!!  On the car ride home, you can see Jake and Aunt Jul....and Mr. Bear were having a fun time together in the back seat :-)

Slam Dunk

Jake and I have been in Virginia now for 9 days :-)  We came up for Aunt Katy's graduation and since Chris has been really busy with work - we decided to stay for a little while , but we are headed home on Wednesday.  It has been great seeing family and friends....and Jake has had lots of toys to play with at Gram and Poppy's house and Mimi and Papa Dee's house.  He has enjoyed all of the attention - and had LOTS of fun.  Here he is slam dunking the ball into the basketball net that Gram and Poppy bought for him (it also has a slide on the other side....very cool)!!

Holding on for dear life...