Good Day!

Today was a good day!  Chris has been gone the past couple of days (that's definitely not the good part - we miss him - and Jake for the past 2 nights around dinner has kept looking at the door going out to the garage....waiting for him to open it), so Jake and I have had some quality "mommy and jake" time :-)  The day started off with a visit to the doctor - for me - just routine.  We got to hear the new baby's heartbeat - 160 - yay!  The doctor had trouble finding it at first and commented that the baby is already very active and moving all around.  I'm pretty sure that's because he/she hears Jake all the time and figures he/she better start getting prepared to be able to keep up with the big brother!  Then, after the good, quick appointment, we had a playdate with our next-door neighbor.  That was fun.  Jake only had 2 moments of "that toy is mine" - not too bad, but we are working on that.  Unfortunately, Jake only took a 45 minute nap, which is RARE!  I am usually guaranteed 2 hours, but I'm pretty sure he had some sort of a nightmare.  BUT - because he would never fall back to sleep, he did lay on the couch with me and watch a little TV, so that was sweet :-)  Jake fell and hit his head - and now has a "goose-egg" on his forehead.  I tried to get a picture, but he wasn't having it (the bump is hiding under his hair).  The good news is that it is only a bump and NOT a bleeding gash!  I knew it would probably only be a matter of time before he fell into one of the coffee tables, especially since he is trying to PERFECT the art of running!!  A fly somehow got stuck in the house today - yuck!  Sooooo, I was trying to kill the fly - the fly had like 10 lives - I promise.  I must've hit that thing like 10 times - and it would "play dead" and then when I would go to pick it up and throw it away - boom - it would fly away again.  BUT, earlier I was smacking the wall and everything to try to kill this thing - and of course Jake was thinking the whole thing was funny and was just laughing away.  The fly ended up on the ceiling, so I was trying to get it to fly OFF the ceiling, and I started throwing Jake's blocks up at the ceiling to try to get the fly to move (which he would not).  Apparently, as I was throwing these blocks into the air, I was making a noise or something....because when I finally gave up, Jake started picking up blocks and throwing them and making noises.  He was totally mocking me (probably making fun of me)!!  I'll have you know that I FINALLY killed that fly tonight - after Jake went to bed, so I'm sad he wasn't awake to witness victory.  There were other fun things that happened today, but it's too late to recall them all right now.  We did have spaghetti (with white sauce) for dinner - and Jake enjoyed himself.  I tried to get some shots of all of the spaghetti in his hair, but it's hard to tell in the pictures.  I'm thankful for today with Jake.  I will only have one June 30, 2009 - and it sure was a good one!  

Pretty Funny

So, I took this video sometime last week - but it's hilarious, b/c it was right after Jake was finishing eating lunch.....and he is falling asleep, but trying to fight it!  It totally cracks me up!  This is the second time lately that he has been fighting sleep at lunch - I think the heat is really taking it out of him, but enjoy this....it'll probably make you laugh!

One Handsome Boy

I guess Jake remembered seeing Daddy wear this hat on Sunday, b/c he just put it on himself yesterday...and started walking around with it on, so OF COURSE it was a good photo-op for me!  Always have my camera ready ;-)

THEN...

After all of the excitement of watching a double-header....and then getting to RUN AROUND on the field, he got to play in the back of Daddy's truck for a couple of minutes (that's how Daddy contains Jake while he's getting things "organized" - aka cleaned out - in his truck)! :-)  SO, Jake had a pretty fun and busy night last night!  It's no surprise he slept in about 45 extra minutes this morning - how cool was that for Mommy!! 

*ps. if you blow up the pictures and you notice Jake's shirt all wet - that is NOT because he was sweating so much....he was pouring water on himself - and I was letting him do it (hey, no harm was done), so that's why he's all wet!  Just didn't want people thinking I had him out in the unbearable, extreme heat :-)

Take me Out to the Ball Game

Last night, we went to see Chris play softball.  Jake loves going to the games, as I've mentioned on here before.  We pack dinner....and he gets to eat, watch some ball, get lots of attention, etc. Last night, he especially liked walking up to the dugout fence during the game and seeing all the guys - and then after the game, we let him run around the field.  He made a "bee line" for home plate - and was SAFE....and then really, he just wanted to play in the dirt.  I would imagine that's pretty typical!  

They Start Early...

It's kind of like talking on the phone....I guess Jake sees me on the computer some - that he wants his turn, too.  

Puzzle Time

Jake and I have been working a lot of puzzles lately....here he is doing one of his puzzles.  He has advanced to a few more "complicated" ones, too....he's doing a good job - and having lots of fun - and of course he loves the sense of accomplishment!  Oh yes....and he likes to do them over and over and over again, but who can complain about that?!

One more Father's Day Shout-Out....

We of course want to wish OUR Dads a Happy Father's Day, too, because so much of who Chris and I are today is because of them!  Thank you for your example, love, and support you've always shown and continue to show!  We love Papa Dee and Poppy!  Hope you guys had a great day!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!

Today was a fun day spent with Daddy!  He had duty yesterday/last night, so he got home around 7:15am - and we quickly got ready and headed out to eat breakfast at IHOP - yummy!! :-)  Later, we went and got Daddy's present, b/c he has been wanting some fishing poles and gear, so that he can fish in his "free time."  Who knew that there are like a bazillion choices when trying to pick out a fishing pole?!  Good thing he knew what he was looking for.... Then, Daddy got in a good Father's Day nap, which was much needed and well-deserved....and then there was lots of play time....and lots of hugs!  We are so thankful for Chris - and I love watching him be a Dad to Jake.  Jake is one very lucky kid to have such a cool Dad!  We love you Chris/Daddy :-)

Fun Day with Jake

It was just Jake and me today.  Chris worked and then had duty, so Jake and I held down the fort and had a FUN day together! :-)  We ran errands at the beginning of the day (grocery shopping - yuck)!  Then, we just played and played and played.  We also "ate dinner" with Mimi, Papa Dee, and Aunt Jul on the webcam, which was fun.  Here are some FUN pictures/moments from the day...

We have been working with Jake on knowing where his ears, eyes, mouth, nose, etc. are.  Here is the progress we are making....

Really Cool, huh?!  Check this one out....

Sooooo....right now - everything is his nose, but we will keep working on that!! :-)

Jake and Me :-)

Hilton Head pictures...

Jake loved EVERYTHING about the beach....especially the freedom.  We didn't really go to Hilton Head to "be" on the beach....we just were exploring to see if we could check it out and see what all was around the area.  Of course, when we found the beach, though - Jake wanted to do a little exploring THERE!  So, we weren't dressed appropriately, but hey....you only live once!

Aunt Katy and Aunt Becky Visit!!

Aunt Becky and Aunt Katy came to visit this week!!  We had a GREAT time with them here!  Jake loved all of the extra attention - and being spoiled :-)  I enjoyed the company....and the extra hands!  We all really appreciate you two coming to visit us this week - it was such a FUN time. 

In fact, Jake had SO much fun.....that today at lunch (and they left early this morning), but he FELL ASLEEP DURING LUNCH!!!!!!!  There's a first time for everything, b/c the boy has never slept when food is involved (at least that I remember) - and yet today....he ate most of his lunch, but was sound asleep before he finished - with no hope of awakening him! :-)  He wants to thank his 2 aunts for lots of FUN, too :-)

Who you gonna call??

Apparently, Jake is trying to copy me and talk on the phone, too!  It started out that he would talk on his toy phone.....but he has moved on to bigger and better things - Mommy's cell phone (so, if you get a call from me and just hear jibberish - Jake probably DID mean to call you)!  I love that he just walks around the house talking on the phone :-)  AND while I was cleaning up today, I heard him in the other room talking, so I walked in there and noticed he was actually talking on the cell phone to an imaginary person, so I had to get a video of it.  It was cracking me up!!  He was so serious about his conversation...

POOL TIME!

The pool was a BIG HIT today (thanks Hailey for letting your Mom blog about your pool and convincing us to buy one, too)!! :-)  The best part was watching Chris, Chris, and Emily blow the pool up!  I couldn't really partake in that activity...being pregnant and all!!  Anyway, we had lots of fun - Jake pretty much just chilled and read a bath book that Sofia had brought (I really thought he would be all over the pool, but he was content just chillin and reading the book).  Sofia was fearless and was trying to go down the slide face first!!  It was a VERY FUN time....and I know we will probably be using the pool a lot this week when Aunt Becky and Aunt Katy get here.  It's just not fun telling Jake it's time to go inside.......OR probably getting our water bill at the end of the month (considering the hose stays on and plugged into the pool the whole time....so that the sprinklers will work), BUT.....it is totally worth it to see the joy on their faces!!  

Fun Day

Today, our friends Chris, Emily, and Sofia came to play at our house.  Sofia and Jake have played together a lot - and she is almost 13 month, so they have lots of fun together and play really well together, too!  Unfortunately, they are moving at the end of the month (very sad).  They brought their dog, too - who hung out in the back yard and on our porch.....it was hard to decide who Jake enjoyed playing with more at first:  Sofia or Stowy.  Jake was SO EXCITED about the dog being on the porch - and I wish I had gotten video of him just talking away and laughing and playing peek-a-boo with the dog.  It was pretty hysterical.  I'm totally depriving my child, I guess.  :-)  

Breaking Bad Habits

I guess Jake was hoping to "chill" while eating dinner last night, BUT I quickly snapped a picture and then put an end to that.....he's old enough to be sitting CORRECTLY in his high chair - even if it is cute watching him stretch out :-)

What can I say...

the boy loves to move....

5th Anniversary - Wow!

So, today is Chris and mine's 5th Anniversary!  Crazy!  The crazier thing is that we dated 7 years before getting married, so that totals a lot of years!  It's nice that he is AROUND this year (not deployed or in the field).  He has softball games tonight, but that is pretty appropriate for us, I think (although don't tell him, but I have my fingers crossed that they get cancelled) :-)  The past 5 years have brought a lot of amazing changes - we've moved 3 times (if you count Chris living in Ft. Knox, KY), we've gone through 2 deployments, we've had the most awesome baby....and another on the way.....WE JUST HAVE SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR - and we are - so thankful!  I thought you guys might like to take a ride down "memory lane" and see some pictures from the wedding...I don't have too many on the computer, but this is what I could find.  Chris and I were talking a couple of weeks ago - and Chris told me that if we were going to pick a "wedding dance" song for the present time, we would dance to "Then" by Brad Paisley.  It kind of describes how we feel about our life together up to this point.  Sorry for all of the "mushyness", but you gotta have it every now and then :-)  Here's to lots more great years ahead on this adventure of life that we are doing together...and that's the best part about it!  

Then (Brad Paisley)

I remember trying not to stare the night that I first met you, 
You had me mezmorized 
And three weeks later in the front porch light 
taking forty-five minutes to kiss goodnight 
I hadn't told you yet, I thought I loved you then 

Now your my whole life, Now your my whole world 
I just can't believe the way I feel about you girl 
Like a river meets the sea, stronger than its ever been 
We've come so far since that day 
And I thought I loved you then 

I remember taking u back to right where I first met you, 
You were so surprised 
There were people around but i didnt care, i got down on one knee right There 

and once again I thought I loved you then 


Now your my whole life, Now your my whole world 
I just can't believe the way I feel about you girl 
Like a river meets the sea, stronger than it's ever been 
We've come so far since that day 
And I thought I loved you then 

I can just see you, with a baby on the way 
I can just see you, when your hair is turning grey 
What I can't see is how im ever gonna love you more 
But I've said that before 

Now your my whole life, Now your my whole world 
I just cant believe the way I feel about you girl 
We'll look back someday at this moment that were in 
And I'll look at you and say 
And I thought I loved you then 
And I thought I loved you then 

Strawberry Bread Recipe

A friend of mine called last week and told me she had just picked fresh strawberries.  I told her I had a delicious strawberry bread recipe she should try....and as I was reading her the recipe, I decided that I WANTED some strawberry bread myself.  I made some around this time last year after Jake and I went strawberry picking with my Mom and the Joneses (fun day).  SO, I made some tonight after dinner....and now honestly - I want to eat BOTH loaves that just came out of the oven.  I've already had 2 pieces.  I wonder how many is TOO many?!  I mean, I am eating for 2 now, so I think we both deserve 2 pieces each (which would mean I need to eat 4).  :-)  I'll probably just stick with the 2 pieces I already ate, but I figured since I was blogging, I would jot down the recipe incase anyone wants to try it out.  I mean, it's healthy, too - it has strawberries in it!!! ha!

3 cups flour

2 cups sugar

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

3 tsp cinnamon

1 1/4 cup oil

4 eggs, beaten

3 cups strawberries, sliced

Mix all dry ingredients together.  Make hole in center.  Mix oil, eggs, and strawberries in a small bowl.  Pour into dry ingredients.  Stir well by hand.  Pour into 2 greased and floured loaf pans.  Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.  Cool.

*delicious served with cream cheese*

Trust me....it's worth going to get some fresh strawberries tomorrow and making this yummy bread!!

Its been a while...

I realized that Jake and I don't have many pictures together lately....b/c I'm usually taking pictures of just him, so Chris wanted to take one of the two of us the other night.  Here it is....it was right before bedtime, so Jake was kind of ready for the paparazzi to give him some privacy :-)