Great day...

Jacob is trying to transition to one nap, so on days when he actually succeeds, I lay out! He typically naps for 2-3 hours, so I have plenty of time to get my sun on and shower afterwards. Score!

Disclaimer (per Josh): please ignore the grass and weeds- its been raining a lot here lately and the grass is seriously out of control!

 

Today while outside tanning my post-baby tankini-wearing smokin' hot bod, I was listening to my "Texas/Red Dirt Country" station on Pandora and this song came on.

 

I literally started crying because its exactly how I was feeling at that moment. And I'm a hormonal breastfeeding mom. Ha!

It's a great day to be alive
I know the suns still shining
When I close my eyes
There's some hard times in the neighborhood
But why can't everyday be just this good

 

Ohhh...Travis Tritt...you get me every time!

Recipe - zucchini bake

This meal is so delicious and easy, it oughta be a staple in every family's rotation!

Ingredients

1 tbsp EVOO

2 zucchinis, quartered lengthwise, sliced

1 bell pepper, diced

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 can Hunt's fire roasted diced tomatoes with garlic

3/4 cup water

1 cup dry instant white rice

Monterrey Jack cheese

Directions

1) put oil in skillet over medium heat, add zucchini and peppers, sautée for 5ish minutes or until zucchini starts browning

2) add black beans, tomatoes and water, bring to boil

3) add rice, cover and turn off heat, let sit for 10 minutes or until all water is absorbed

4) sprinkle desired cheese on top and enjoy!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there! A big shout out to my dad- he's always been there for us girls and there's still a special place in my heart for him.

Happy SECOND Father's Day to my sweet husband. Last Father's Day was a bit of a blur, so we're making up for it this year!

Father's Day 2012

Josh is the most genuine, loving, selfless, kind, funny, smart man I know. He gratiously provides for us, endlessly protects us, unconditionally loves us, and always makes us laugh. Even after all these crazy years.

I cannot imagine a better father for Jacob, or husband for myself.

He brightens every day, and literally puts a smile on Jacob's face every time he walks into the room. 

I am honored to be your wife, and beyond thankful that you're the father of my son.

Thank you for all that you do. We couldn't survive without you!

 

Summertime fun!

It's be so HOT here lately, and its so incredibly hard to stay inside all day with a toddler. So we've found new and fun ways to get outside!

For starters, Jacob got this awesome water table from my parents. He totally loves it!! I usually fill it up during his afternoon nap (or lately his only nap...grrr...more on that later), and then he plays with it when he wakes up. He splashes so hard, he gets both of us soaked! Ha!

Also, on Tuesday, we went to a park with a great splash pad! Jacob got a little overwhelmed with all the kids running around, so I mostly just carried him around and stuck him (and me) in all the water features. He really loves it though. We had a nice picnic with a friend afterwards and then headed home for a 2 hour nap, during which time I threw on my swimsuit and laid out for a bit. Suh-weet!

Lastly, our neighbor across the alley has a pool, so we've been taking Jacob over there on the weekends when Josh is home. It's supposed to hit 100° soon, so we might be venturing over there during the week. Ugh! Is it October yet??

Year One

I was walking in our office one day when our VP of Operations asked me to write a guest blog about our boss, since his birthday was coming up.  Sure, I love the guy & love working for him, but how could I summarize my working experience with him in one blog?  Could I express my thoughts on him fully?  Could I remember any funny stories involving him?  And what to leave out?  Sure, this is the guy who kept me up all night every night for months on end, then expected me to clock in the next morning fresh as a daisy.  This is the guy who the VP & I took to lunch over in Grapevine one time & he crapped in my hands.  He's come a long way during our time together.  Oh, don't let the fact that he just turned one year old fool you.  Anyone who visits his office can clearly see he's in charge.

 

I submit for your review my thoughts on my first year working for Jacob........

 

How can you fully describe the first year of your first child’s life?  It is such a life-change that it is hard to remember what life was like for us before Jacob was born.  He is easily the best thing that has ever happened to me, he is my greatest joy & biggest challenge, & I don’t say “challenge” in a negative way.  Before he was born, Kate & I heard it all from our parents & other parents about what to expect, but until he was here we couldn’t really appreciate how things would change or what to expect.  And I think it’s that way for all first-time parents.  I can remember vividly going to the hospital the night before he was born to check in & begin the induction.  The meds Kate was on had her hooked up to an IV machine & going to the restroom very often & making sleep a hard thing.  Things moved quickly starting around 6:00 the morning of the 5^th, & Kate was pushing before we knew it.  We had to tell some family members to high-tail it to the hospital since things were moving faster than expected.  And then, Jacob was here, and God blessed us with a healthy son.  As my dad had told me before, from that moment on I’d always be a father.  Jacob would always be my son.  Regardless of what would ever happen the rest of my life, those would be sure things.

 

The first three months of Jacob’s life were like the NCAA tournament for me & Kate: survive & advance.  At the time when he was a tiny, tiny baby hardly sleeping at night, crying often & allowing us very little sleep, it seemed as though he would be our only child.  It was especially difficult for Kate, as she transitioned from a corporate job to a stay-at-home mom with an infant.  With no experience, her nearest resource with knowledge & advice was my mom an hour & a half away.  Some days she felt like she could not go on.  It killed me to see her struggling.  I was also drained most days, going on little sleep & then going to work.  It’s easy for me to recall in my mind the days where Jacob was still a newborn, & he would only sleep in our arms.  I’d hold him until around 2:00 in the morning or so & then Kate would wake up & take over.  Looking back, we could have done things quite differently.  I’d venture that a lot of parents would say that after their first kid.  Those days, however, now seem like a distant place.

 

Jacob as a 12-month old is even more of a miracle & joy to our life than we could have imagined.  Our son walks now.  He has excellent motor skills with his hands & can feed himself & also drink from a cup with a straw.  He recognizes the dogs & loves flipping through pages in his books.  He brings things to us.  He smiles & laughs (my favorite thing in the world now).  He has teeth in & more coming in.  He sleeps through the night!  He naps!  Our days are more predictable & he has a nice routine.  He is good at riding in the car.  He watches me do yard work.  He hugs us.  He has an adventurous spirit & is curious about everything around him, yet he is mild mannered & polite wherever we go, often content to observe all around him.  He is incredible.  It is incredible to think that he is our son.  I’m so, so excited to see how he grows & learns in the next year ahead, & although most of the time we will be caught up in daily life & we will love our little boy as he grows, I know there will be times in the future when we think back to this first year & wish that for a moment we could go back in time. 

 

Jacob, I love you with all my heart & I thank God he blessed us with you.

 

Love,

Dad

Jacob is ONE!

What a fun-filled day! My new goal in life is to make special days like this as special as possible for my kid(s). I think I succeeded yesterday.

We started the day with confetti pancakes. Jacob loves him some pancakes, and how festive is this?! Aunt Carrie and Uncle Joe came over for breakfast and a little play time.

We gave Jacob this awesome swing and slide climber. Josh put it together the night before, so we showed it to him when he woke up. He was so surprised and kept pointing at it. Too cute!



He looooves it, especially the slide (which surprised me). We played on it after breakfast, and a little more in the evening. Its been so stinkin' HOT here lately, that we can't really get out too much during the day. Nevermind the terrible mosquitos- ICK!

Aunt Carrie and Uncle Joe got Jacob this awesome truck. He looooves it! He can't really "peddle" it yet, but he loves sitting in it and cruising around (with us pushing it) and pushing it around. It has a cute little tailgate area with 2 cup holders, and is just enough room to tow a dog! Hehe!

 

After his morning nap, we threw him in the car and headed out! We ate lunch at Highland Park Pharmacy, and Jacob got his first taste of a real chocolate milk shake. Saying he liked it is an understatement. I mean, c'mon- who doesn't like a chocolate shake?! This little pharmacy and soda fountain is such a wonderful little place, its been open since 1912 and still has the bar top and honeycomb tile. I definitely recommend stopping in there!

 

 

After lunch, we went to the Dallas World Aquarium. We had such a fun time! The aquarium is 3 levels- the top 2 are more of a rainforest zoo with monkeys and sloths and giant otters. It's really incredible. The bottom floor is more of a traditional aquarium with fish and manatees and sharks. Here are some pictures from the trip.

 

 

 

 

 

They have an incredible tunnel with sharks and stingrays swimming right around you. Talk about impressive!!! We spent a good 10 minutes in there, just watching the sharks swim right above your head! I think Jacob liked it too.

 

 

 

Of course, we had to swing by the gift shop and get J-bird a stuffed penguin, which we've named "Uno"- I think its a pretty fitting name.

 

 

Jacob took a good nap on the way home, and then we played some more with his truck and slide. I got a few more pictures from outside that just melt my heart.

 

 

After putting Jacob to bed, Josh and I cracked open a bottle of 2008 Pedernales Cellars Family Reserve. We've been saving this bottle for a special celebration, and I think it was the perfect occasion!

 

Cheers to us and our first year as parents! Bring on many, many more years and memories!

 

Jacob - 12 months

Howwww on Earth is my son ONE!? I'm welling up just saying that. I've been so emotional all week- not really because he's one, but because its gone so stinkin' FAST! Every day, as he gets older, he gets more fun, so I'm definitely not sad that he's getting older and more mature. But as I look back on the year, I cannot believe how ridiculously FAST its gone! And then I think that in 17 short years, he will leave for college. And be gone forever. How sad! Ughh....

Okay, enough with the debbie downer....

This past year has taught me so many things- how to change a diaper under 30 seconds, how to do many things with 1 hand, how to breastfeed like a boss, how to survive on no sleep, how to concoct the perfect pot of coffee, a level of patience I never thought I had and, above all, a love I never knew existed. I love that little boy with every ounce of my heart. He makes me so proud and happy, I literally think my heart is going to explode. Sometimes after he goes to bed, I want to go in and wake him up, just to cuddle and kiss him some more. Everywhere we go, I want people to see how adorable he is. And if he's not with me, I want to show his picture off. I just can't imagine loving anyone/anything any more than I love him.

Having Jacob has also reaffirmed my love and admiration for my husband. I thank God everyday for putting Josh into my life, because I know, without a shadow of a doubt, I couldn't have done this with anyone else but him. He is our rock and backbone, he keeps this family together and strong through everything. His patience, understanding and support are such a blessing to me.

And lastly, Jacob is such a joy. He is the light of our lives and the sweetest thing that I've ever known. His love for me, and Josh, is so refreshing, so effortless and so unconditional. I can see him look at Josh, like he is the coolest person ever. And I see the look in his eyes, when he looks at me, like I'm his whole world.

Well, baby... you are our whole world. And we love you more than you'll ever know.

Now, onto his monthly update... Jacob has changed a lot this month, he's much more consistent and stable. He seems to be settling into a new routine/schedule, which has pushed bedtime back a bit.

Age: 12 months
Height: 31" (88%)
Weight: 23lbs 14oz (86%)
Milestones: Well, he's officially walking! And by walking, I mean running- or at least trying to! That boy caught onto walking with ease. I mean really, its quite impressive! I think its also safe to say that his first real word was "da" for dog. He loooves his puppies so so much! Every time I go in to get him from a nap, he immediately points to the door and says "da da da". He loves to chase them all around, "pet" them, and giggle at them when they bark and run around. They are so cute together! As I mentioned, he's pointing, waving, clapping and showing signs of trying to use spoons/forks himself. He definitely understands that food goes in bowls, and to get it out, you have to use a spoon or fork. He's also pretty much a pro at the sippy and straw cups.
Sleep: His sleep has improved SO MUCH this month. He's consistently sleeping through the night, without a peep, for 11-12 hours. He usually sleeps 8pm-7am. His naps have gotten better too. I can generally get two 1-hour naps out of him, but of course we have freak days where he naps for 2 hours.
Eating: We are down to 2 nursing sessions a day- morning and night. We just dropped down to 2 last week and Jacob really doesn't seem phased by it. I got a little engorged one night, but so far so good. As for solids- much like his daddy, he doesn't like vegetables. Like not at all. I try so hard, but it usually ends up in full-blown tears. So I offer it, but don't push it. He still loves strawberries and cheese. I always serve him yogurt for breakfast, I think it really helps with his digestion. He usually has fruit, oatmeal and toast/waffles as well. For lunch and dinner, he usually has turkey dogs, mac & cheese, cheese sticks, strawberries and I try to get him to eat a pouch of food, so he gets a little bit of vegetables. As he gets older, we're trying to get him to eat what we eat. We aren't the BEST eaters, but this is encouraging us to eat better.
Clothes size: 18 months - 2T
Diaper size: Size 5 Cruisers
Best Moment: There have been so many fun moments this month- he's walking like a champ now, and I love watching him toddle around the backyard chasing the dogs. Today was also really fun- I'll post separately about that!
Worst Moment: Last week while we were cooking dinner, Jacob slipped on some water on the kitchen floor and smacked the back of his head on the tile floor. I literally think my heart stopped for a second. That hard, solid thud on the floor nearly gave me a heart attack! He cried really hard, and got a pretty good bump, but he seemed ok and bounced back really quickly. Thank GOD!
Favorite toy: His legs? Haha! But really- now that he's walking, he's running around all over the house exploring everything he couldn't before. Keeping me busy, indeed!
Teeth: He officially cut his top front teeth, and one of the side top ones. Ugh! Poor guy has been a teething terror, complete with runny poo, and he keeps smacking his head from the pain.
Looking forward to: His birthday party this Sunday. I'm soooo excited!!! What a FUN time!

Jacob at the park

LOOK at this adorable video of Jacob toddling around the park yesterday!!

He hasn't been walking too well in his shoes, but we didn't have any other choice, as the ground was way too hot to walk around barefoot. He stood around for a few minutes, but as soon as he saw other kids running around, he was OFF!

I love watching him explore and learn- sooo precious!