Baby Seth's Nursery!

New sheets! (Jake's old bumper that I loved!)

Super cute and the perfect colors! Thanks, Pottery Barn Kids! :)

New wall decor: Monkey-Giraffe-Lion height chart, sign above bed and little giraffe on the shelf.

1/2 of Seth's closet...filled with new clothes and some of Jake's oldies.

"Seth" letters Gammie made and new Giraffe for the wall Daddy picked out!

Diaper wreath my friend Nikki made for the hospital! So cute!

Hippo-Monkey-Giraffe picture I made using the cricut and scrapbook paper. I thought it turned out pretty cute. :)

Zebra and Elephant picture my mom and I made using the cricut!

These blocks used to have Jake's initials on them, Jess found them at Canton. I just painted over them and my mom made these super cute animals on the cricut. Love that they got reused for something totally different for Seth and didn't go to waste after Jake!

We pretty much started and finished Seth's nursery this week. I loved Jake's colors and bedding in his nursery, so since we were having a boy we decided to reuse as much as possible, all while making a new and different nursery for Seth. I think we succeeded! We kept the same paint, furniture and colors. We came up with a new theme, and made and bought completely new wall decor and new crib sheets. I love how it all coordinates yet isn't too matchy. I can't wait to see our lil Seth in his room!!

Week In Pictures: Black and Blue edition

#1 Black and Blue thing: some homemade banners I'm beginning to make for Jakey's 2nd bday party that's about a month away!!

#2. Well, this is more bloody than black and blue but I'm guessing she feels pretty bruised. We found a 6cm abcess on the poor girl's neck and she had her first surgery on Saturday!

#3. Jake's comfort zone got a little bit bruised over his first haircut. He did not want to sit in the chair without Mommy and did not want Jasmin to hold him. And, they're both wearing black and blue! :)

#4 Last and least, my arm is black and blue. My MRI tech collapsed several veins while digging around trying to get some dye fluid in me via IV. What a fun way to start a 50 minute MRI. :) All that matters is that it's over, and it will be a while before I have to do it again.


Well, I really thought we were just having way too fun of a week not to record it in our family memory book. With Christmas and birthday preparations going on, and some health situations with me and Sadie, we've had a very pleasant week around here. :P

(Sorry if a couple of these pics are gross!)

oNe month til OnE year!!

my BiG boy with BiG blues sippin' outta a BiG boy cup... :(

super nosey and curious little fella!



wheeww...deep breath...he IS still a baby, afterall. Look at that sleeping cuteness

Daddy and Jakey - Fri, Dec 4th, 2009 Jakey's first snow!

Mama and Jakey that same day. Soooo glad Daddy was home to hang out and experience the awesome weather that day!

So sweet! He loved Santa and was not hesitant to sit on his lap at all! :)

Oh, man. Has time ever flown by? It is so bittersweet to just write the title of this blog. I just love this little boy so stinkin' much that it hurts. He is the happiest, sweetest, most perfect, innocent little bundle of joy! I have always just wanted to be a mom. I've always thought that it would be rewarding and challenging to take on the role of parent. I guess I just didn't expect it to be this life-changing, awesome, exciting, and FUN! It has been a privilege and honor to begin raising this little man. Oh, how I could go on and on. I'm just an emotional mess when it comes thinking about all that I feel for our Jakey. So, now that I've gotten that out of the way, sweet Jakey, here's what you've been up to this past month:

-You are consistently and independently eating most meals and most foods. You've had chicken nuggets, hamburgers, soups, casseroles, mexican food, and a whole Thanksgiving dinner this month. You pretty much eat a normal serving of some foods and don't require me making or ordering anything different than what Daddy and I are eating.

- You've really taken to sippy cups and just start sippin' away as you please. I felt like this took forever for some reason. Maybe because our first try was at six months! But you've totally taken off and are on the "big boy" sippy cups now. I think you like the handles!!

-You still move about the entire house as you please. You will take a couple of steps, but certainly aren't walking yet. You still know that crawling will get you across the room the fastest, so I've not noticed any desire on your part to take very many steps in a row (ie-walk across the room). Maybe you will change your thinking soon and decide to walk instead of crawl. The cutest is when you take two or three steps on your own to move around the furniture and then you realize what you just did and clap for yourself!! :)

-You are so smart! You say mama and dada pretty correctly to identify us still. You have also been shaking your head "no" when you don't want any more bites or when we tell you no or when we shake our head at you. You know no. :) haha. You also clap, play peek-a-boo, wave, give high-fives, etc as in the previous months. You are becoming a little parrot...most things Daddy or I say or do you will try to copy. We've had tons of fun blowing bubbles with our gum and then watching you do silly things with your tongue... ;)

-You are still a great sleeper! You take 2-3 naps per day, are pretty flexible, and have been falling asleep on me weekly during church which is nice. I actually get to hear the lesson now instead of taking you out!

-You sat on Santa's lap last week. You weren't scared at all and were completely happy! You're still great to let people talk to you and hold you.

-You've been sooo great with the Christmas decorations! You've left the tree, presents, etc alone and nothing's broken or hurt you.

- I have no idea what you weigh, guess we'll find out in a month or so. You are still in a size 4 diaper in Luv's and Pampers (the only diapers you wear). Your shoe size right now is a 5 1/2 and your clothes size is right around 18 months in most brands.

ps---you still have HUGE hands and feet, too. :)

I can't believe we're preparing for your First Birthday and party! This has been the best year of my entire life. We're also very excited for Christmas this year! What a fun and special winter this will be. We love you with all of our hearts!

Bring on Baby Jake!

view as you walk in the door to his room

dresser/changing table complete with all of the goodies from our showers

cute lil dirty clothes hamper- I'm sure we'll fill it up often!

comfy chair and a soft blanket. i know that it will be nice to have both of those for late night feedings and daily book reading!

expression on his wall...

toy bin! I LOVE it...

puppy stuff on top of hutch

"always kiss me goodnight" and nightlight

We are officially ready for Jake. Not only did we complete the nursery today but we attended our childbirth class. We learned a lot but were so glad that it only took up one day.

I am loving the nursery! We got so many neat things at our showers! It was fun adding it all to his three toy bins. I'll have to later post pics of his closet once it's organized. The boy will be the best dressed baby ever and he has tons of toys stored in there too! It's crazy.

I can't believe I am already over 35 weeks and Jake is supposedly around 6lbs. It is really sinking in that he'll be here almost any day now. I have another Dr appt Monday, they are every week now! I feel like I live there but love going since I get to hear Jake and check up on him.

Until next time! :)

"He is risen; he is not here." - Mark 16:6

That time of year is here again! It is Easter and it is Spring. I love this time of year. The flowers are blooming, the air is fresh, there are baby animals entering the world, and the color all around is bright and refreshing. His magical and wondrous handprints are all over. One of my very favorite flowers, the tulip, is in season. And many people in this world are focusing on Jesus. For me, that part is bittersweet. I love that people are thinking of Him and take time out to attend church and worship, and anytime they choose to do it, I will take it. I just know that in the Bible we are instrtucted to do it all year, every week, every day. Not just on Easter and Christmas. And I know that it is much more of a fulfilling and personal relationship on both sides when it is a daily part of your life, rather than an occasional holiday ritual. My relationship with Him gives me hope and peace in many situations, in and beyond this lifetime and this earth. And I am so thankful to live in this country where we have the option and even time off to celebrate that He is alive and active in our lives today.

For me, Easter is just a special reminder of everything dear to me. Not only is it a Holiday centered around Christ and what He did for us, but also of family and togetherness. Kind of like Christmas minus the stress and plus the warm sunshine. I remember when I was young and we would go see my great grandparents in Sherman. We attended church with family (as every Sunday) played outside, ate a nice homemade meal with all of our aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins, etc, hid easter eggs, and much more. It was always just a pleasant and fun day. Easter is the Holiday that most reminds me of my great grandparents, and they are so very missed.

On a much lighter note, and because I love seasonal decorating SO MUCH, here are my favorite things, Easter edition:

tulips!

spring dishes/platters! (from my Aunt Lissa)

Spring Gardens/Garden Flags

All things Bunny! (found this at the Portland Airport!)

Deviled Eggs (and cute things to put them in!)

And one of my fav stores, Illuminations, comes out with the CUTEST candles!

And this brings me to my final point. I get many Easter/Spring decorations because my birthday usually falls around Easter, and my family and friends know how much I love a little seasonal cheer. Let the birthday shopping begin! Haha!!! ;-)

Valentine's, Birthdays & Portland

Just a quick update! We have had a good weekend, but it was too short! This will be a busy, but short week for us.

First of all, this is the month of birthdays for several of my bestest friends, it seems! So, Tuesday night the girls are headed to the Black Walnut to celebrate Christina, Steph, and Rachel's birthdays. Also this month are Danette and Amanda's birthdays! Goodness! Happy Birthday girls!!!

Also, as mentioned before, this is a short week for Jeremy and I as we are headed up to Portland to visit Dale and Danette and baby Nicolai (Nico). We're very excited to catch up (in person) and meet little Nico.

Lastly, Valentine's day is Thursday. I am a sucker for cute, pointless holidays. Jeremy and I hardly celebrate V-day, but I sure do love to decorate for it! (As mentioned in 100 things about me...I love hearts, too!!) I always love a holiday that brings me flowers from Jeremy...well, sometimes it does, atleast :). So...in honor of Valentine's Day I have decided to post a few of my fav valentine's decorations.

We'll be sure to update with pics from our trip when we return. I am also excited to have next Monday off, as our company so generously gives us President's Day off!!!

Cute Valentine's towels my Gran gave me :)

Heart shaped candles I found last year

Chips n dip heart plate

Red lights and candles and heart candy dish on buffet (prettier @ night)

Cute heart hand towel from Jess (she knows me well!)

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Well, not outside, but atleast in our house!

I love Christmas, and I love decorating. Put them together and decorating for Christmas is one of my favorite things to do! Here are a few pics of this year's decorations. Yes, I am a nerd, and take pictures every year. I think they will be neat to look at in 20, 30, or 50 years!