Pool Date

Two weekends ago, Jake's girlfriend Addie came over for a pool date & dinner. Then after the kids went to bed, the parents enjoyed a movie outside on the patio. I LOVE SUMMER!!

Summer pool date

The "car ride"

Stuffing his face with watermelon

We've Been Kind of Boring

We've had some low key weekends lately. It's very nice, but not much to blog about!

Jake before church. My mom used to dress my brother & I in lots of sailor outfits when we were little, so I couldn't help pick this outfit up when I saw it. The 24 months was a little snug, but we made it work. And only 3 buttons popped off when he was in Sunday School!

So, Jake hasn't gotten the animal sounds down by memory, but he will repeat them. He'll repeat pretty much anything you say, so it's been pretty funny making him repeat words.

Where we've been...

It has been a crazy last 2 weeks. A stomach bug was going around Jake's daycare, so he was home one day because they thought he may have the symptoms (he didn't get it). He then spent a long weekend with my parents while Robbie & I celebrated Chris & Alli's wedding. When we got Jake back, of course he was sent home 2 days later for possibly have the virus symptom again. He never got sick, but I guess passed something on to Robbie, because then Robbie was home sick with it. Mix that in with a new executive for my company being in town, so I had to go to a welcome dinner & had a week full of meetings. Never a dull moment! We used the past long weekend, to just hang out & relax. We cooked out with friends, played outside & just had a wonderful relaxing weekend. Robbie, Jake & I all also got caught up on our sleep. YEA! Below is everything that has been going on...

Good-bye Turtles, Hello Ducks!

Jake officially moved up to a new class today. (He has been "visiting" the new class to help prepare for the last 2 weeks.) He is now a Duck. The main difference between the classes is the Ducks only take 1 nap per day & it is on a pallet on the floor. So far, he has done good. I'm excited because the Ducks have more of a curriculum that they follow versus just having playtime all day. But I am SO SAD to leave his teachers in the Turtle's class. While all of his teachers are great, his 2 permanent teachers (the other 2 rotate days) are AWESOME. Jake loved them both so much too. The next teachers have some big shoes to fill! We know that they will be just as great & Jake will love them just as much.

Ms. Caitlyn would always pick up costume headbands & take the kids pictures wearing them. Too funny! This was Jake's December photo. It looks like a mug shot!

This was the spring picture. Jake was not amused.
The Turtle's Class Picture. (Ms. Caitlyn & Ms. Darla are missing from the photo.)

Jake - 17 Months

Jake turned 17-months on May 24. I can't believe how the months just keep flying by. Each day he looks & acts more like a toddler and less like a baby. We are certainly experiencing a few of the toddler tantrums. They can be challenging & annoying. Instead of getting frustrated, I try to focus on the sweet moments (which thankfully are the majority of the time!). Moments that make my heart melt:

• Hearing the pitter patter of his feet on the tile floor.
• Watching is blond straight hair blow in the wind when he runs outside.
• When he reaches for you with his arms up in the air while opening & closing his hands for you to hold him.
• When he crawls in your lap, rubs his eyes, buries his head in your neck and drifts off to sleep.
• Hearing him jabber while reading a book.
• When he doesn't realize you are watching him, but then looks up & sees you and smiles so big.
• When he whispers "mama"

This is how I found him asleep one night. He was so tired. He didn't even roll over to his stomach (which is his favorite way to fall asleep). He is sprawled out with his belly hanging out.

Jake has never been too interested in TV. For some reason though, the only show he will ever pay attention to is Sid the Science Kid. If we happen to see it on, we'll let him watch it. This was one Saturday morning. He looked so cute. He was still in his pajamas, holding Curious George, watching the cartoon.

Yes, I know he is standing WAY too close!

Jake loves brooms & mops (but hates vacuum cleaners!). He is usually the last kid in his class at school to be picked up, so his teacher will let him stand in the doorway and look down the hall. Jake loves to watch the janitor. Maybe we have a future sanitation engineer on our hands!

Jake finally learned to climb up on the sofa by himself!

Chris & Alli's Wedding

You know a wedding is going to be a good time when the festivities begin Thursday night & don't end until Sunday afternoon. Thursday night was a girl's dinner (which I realized after I got there that our memory space on the camera was full:( so no pictures). Friday afternoon was the Bridesmaid's Luncheon & then that night was the rehearsal & rehearsal dinner. We were super excited because our friends Robbie & Denise came in for the wedding from Delaware. They are always so much fun! Saturday was the big day. Alli made an absolutely beautiful bride. The wedding was held on the golf course and was gorgeous. It was a beautiful ceremony. We are so happy for Alli & Chris and had so much fun celebrating their marriage that night at the reception. Sunday, Alli's parents hosted a brunch at their house. Such good times spent celebrating with awesome friends.

Robbie & I at the rehearsal

Best friends! Robbie & Lara

Group shot. I wish the photo wasn't so dark!

Robbie & I with Robbie & Denise
Robbie & Alli

Robbie with 2 of his oldest friends, Lara & Vanessa

Wedding Day! Alli dancing with her dad.

The happy couple

How cute is this?!? Instead of a wedding cake, they had cupcakes. The cupcakes had a white chocolate golf ball sitting on a patch of grass. Cute & Yummy!

Robbie & Zach with Alli

Sweet family! Zach, Kimberly & Addie

Me, Alli & Lara

Robbie & I

Robbie & I with his parents who were in town for the wedding

Me, Margaret & Kimberly

Robbie & I with the amazing couple!

What Jake was Doing While We Were at the Wedding

So while we were at the wedding, Jake spent Thursday - Monday with my parents at their house. Their house sits on the perfect location for a little boy! Lots of land to run around and a creek in the woods in the backyard. He got to wear complete play clothes to get muddy in! He had so much fun getting to spend one-on-one time with Nana & Gran. Thank you so much mom & dad for watching him!

Having fun at Nana & Gran's

Exploring with Gran

Can I really just stick my hand in the mud?!?

Still not completely 100% a country boy!
Cousin Love. Nothing like swinging on the back porch with your cousins.

Happy Birthday Nana!

Today (May 11) is my mom's (Jake's Nana) birthday. Happy birthday mom! You are such an amazing women who I've learned so much from. You are such a special & wonderful gift. We all love you so much!!

Jake had a special message for Nana. (Sorry for the abrupt ending, the battery died!)

Mother's Day

On Friday, we headed down to Prattville to see my family. Unfortunately, I think that the AL pollen gets to Jake more than the TN pollen. Poor little guy, all weekend he was wheezy, his eyes watered & he kept sneezing. That in return made him more clingy than normal, but he still had fun! It was such a great weekend!

The kids playing outside with bubbles. (Please note what Maddox & Jake are wearing. The kids just HAD to stick their feet in the pool for just a few minutes. Needless to say, that is impossible for them to do without getting soaked! (except Marrell!) Maddox had to change into play clothes & Jake free bird it.Playing outside trying to fit all 3 in an old stroller

Jake helping Gran push Maddox in the giant inflatable ball. (Dad told me that I don't dress Jake in play clothes that he can get dirty, so he had my mom pick up real play clothes.)

Back in the stroller. This time they lost Maddox, but gained Sadie (my brother's dog). Marrell playing in the sandbox with Lucy (my sister's dog)

With Gran (I could kick myself for not getting a photo of Jake with Nana!) They have strict instructions to take lots of pictures of him with them, when he goes to stay with them in 2 weeks.

Marrell hugging Jake

On Saturday afternoon, we headed to Birmingham to see the Bush's.

Playing at the park in Homewood. Testing out one of his new pair of shoes.

Playing in the rocking chair that was his daddy's when he was a little boy.

Our family

Quit taking pictures mom! I'm trying to take a phone call!!

My 1st Mother's Day (2009) My 2nd Mother's Day (2010)

Kisses for mama

For mother's day, Jake's teachers made each mom a book of pictures they took throughout the year.

All of the pages were great, but the 2 below are my favorite. The first one is the time Jake feel asleep sitting up!

I love in this one he is showing his belly button (or "but but" as he calls it)

Rob gave me this picture for mother's day. It is the date that I became a mom.

My sweet little baby's hand

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day. I truly believe that you do not have to give birth or adopt to be a mom. To me, a mom is a wonderful woman who has had a positive influence in your life & has help guide you to make wise decisions & who has been there as a great role model in your life. My life has been touched by so many women, who have filled that role. And Jake already has so many special women "moms" in his life. I pray that God will continually place sweet wise Christian women in his life to help guide & teach him.

I do have to say though, that mine & Robbie's moms are 2 amazing moms. We love them so much & owe them everything. Their prayers, sacrifices, love & support over the last 31 years for us could never be thanked in words. They are great Christian women who have been such a positive & powerful influence in our lives. And Jake is very lucky to have them as his Nana & Mimi. We love you so much!

And speaking of my own munchkin, what a special mother's day he made it. Becoming a mother changed my life in more ways than I could ever imagine. A mother's love for her child is unreal. I love my family, my husband, my friends. But the love for your child is such a different love & a love I had never experienced. I love my child so much it hurts. I want so bad to protect him from everything bad in this world. From hurt, from sadness, from pain. I know that is impossible, but as a mom, I can't help but feel it. It's constantly worrying about the decisions I make. Will it scar him that I work long office hours? Will he feel like I wasn't there enough? Am I missing out on too many of the little things during the day? It's terrifying, but it is only because I love him so much. But then I drive home to that sweet little face looking out the window waiting on me. That white crazy hair & those big blue eyes greet me with a hug as I walk in the door. And then he curls up in my lap as I rock him to sleep playing with my hair. With his face laying against my chest, I have peace. I have to remind myself that the worry, guilt & stress are just part of being a mom. But so are the hugs, I love yous, kisses & laughs. And what an amazing feeling that is.

Happy Mother's Day!!