Happy Birthday, Jack!!

One year ago today, I woke up at 7:15am to the sound of a pop and the sudden realization that my water had broken! Only a short 4 hours later at 11:20am, little Jack was born (2 weeks before his due date) weighing 6 pounds 14 ounces and measuring 19 inches long (the same weight and height Mallory was when she was born!) . Now my little munchkin weighs over 20 pounds and is crawling and pulling up on everything.

I can't believe my BABY is 1 year old today!!!!! Time, slow down!!! In just one year, Jack has brought so much love and joy into my life. He's the most happy, content, laid-back little thing I've ever seen. What a blessing to be his mommy. No words can explain the joy that both of my children have brought me. I am blessed beyond measure. I'm treasuring every single moment. They pass by way too quickly.

I'm working on Jack's 1st birthday party and I'm going all OUT with a baseball theme. It's going to be a BIG HIT! :-) He's had a wonderful ROOKIE YEAR, so we're going to celebrate our LITTLE SLUGGER turning one with hot dogs, nachos, ice cream, & cake. I'll post pictures soon. I don't want to give too much away before the big day. Here are some pictures of our sweetie pie this past year...

Jack's birthday - July 30, 2008

1st day at home - swaddled in his pack-n-play

3 days old

1 month old

1st pumpkin patch - 10 weeks old

1st Thanksgiving - 3 1/2 months old

4 months old - one of my all time favorites!!!

1st Christmas - 4 1/2 months old

Dedication Sunday - 6 months old

8 months old

10 months old

11 months old

His precious, big, cackle laugh - 11 months old

I love you, Little Angel!!! Happy Birthday!!!!

Snapshots of Summer

This summer has flown by. I can't believe July is nearly gone. Here are some fun memories we've made so far...

Made to Match

My sister-in-law, Tennille, is expecting her 2nd baby in just a few weeks. It's a girl this time and we are all SO excited to finally have another baby girl in the family. Mallory has been the only little girl for almost 5 years! So, for Tennille's baby shower, I made a sweet little blue check pillowcase dress with big white bows. Mallory got to go to the shower, too, so I thought it would be so much fun to have her dressed in a bigger version of the baby's pillowcase dress. I got busy and made Mallory an exact replica of Scarlett's dress. It turned out great and was so much fun!! Here's some pictures of the two matching outfits. It blows my mind to think my little Mallory was once this tiny!!!

Jack's New View

Last week, Jack started pulling up. And now his view has changed tremendously. This morning I sat Jack in his pack-n-play to watch Mickey Mouse and play while I did some laundry. When I came back in the room, here's what I found Jack doing... :-)

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Sid the Science Kid are SO much better when you're standing and not looking through the sides of the pack-n-play! Could I get him to look at me? Could I get a tiny little glance at the camera? Maybe a little hint of a smile? Not a chance!!! He was in awe and stayed that way quite awhile. I think he's likes this new view!!! :-)

Baby Doll Birthday Party

This morning Mallory decided to throw a birthday party for one of her baby dolls. Because party hats are a MUST at all baby doll birthday parties, she improvised and used my kitchen funnels!

Jack's New Ride - RETURNED!!!

Would you believe that I used this stroller for one day and returned it?!?!?! What I thought was going to be the ideal stroller turned out to be more of a problem. It was the perfect size and weight, but the basket was hiding underneath the stroller so far that I couldn't get anything in or out of it. It made shopping a pain because every time I went to get anything out of my purse or anything out of Jack's diaper bag, I had to completely raise the seat and then lower the basket. So, now I'm thinking that my old Graco Lite Rider wasn't so bad after all. Yes, the part that collapses the stroller is still broken, but I have figured out a way to manually collapse it. It's a little more cumbersome and difficult to fold than it used to be, but for now it's going to have to work. I spent over 1 hour in Babies R Us today and countless hours online reading stroller reviews. I want a stroller with a big, accessible basket, a seat that easily reclines all the way down, cup holders, a five point harness, and be lightweight. Any suggestions out there?!?!?! I'm open to all suggestions. :-)

Jack's New Ride

Jack's birthday is just a few weeks away. I can't believe he's almost 1 year old!! As a second child, he received many hand-me-downs from his sister... crib, stroller, infant seat, high chair, etc. All of these have been in great condition and worked perfectly until yesterday. The part that collapses the stroller BROKE! My parents had been intending to get Jack a new stroller for his birthday, but to our surprise, they showed up with an early birthday gift last night!!!! Jack was asleep, so he didn't get to see it until this morning. Here he is checking out his new ride!!! :-) Thank you, Nana & Papa!!!!! What a blessing!!!!

Oh, the funny things she says!!!

To say that Mallory loves to talk is a huge understatement. She loves to chat about anything and everything. She'll talk to real people, imaginary friends, animals, trees... truly anything. And, it doesn't matter if it talks back or not. She'll simply make up something for whatever it is to say back to her and have an ongoing conversation. It's hilarious to listen to.

Today, while riding in the car, she informed me that she can speak Bird. The conversation went something like this...
Mallory: Mommy, did you know I can speak Bird?
Me: You can speak what???
Mallory: Bird!
Me: What's Bird???
Mallory: Tweet tweet.... tweet, tweet, tweet.
Me: Oh, that's wonderful, Sweetheart!

I asked her later if she could speak any other languages. Here's how the conversation went...
Me: Mallory, you told me earlier that you can speak Bird. Can you speak any other language?
Mallory: Tweet - Tweet! Yes, I can speak Puppy. Woof-woof. And, I can speak Rabbit.
Me: Oh, that's interesting.
Mallory: (long pause) Mommy, do rabbits make a sound?
Me: Well, I don't know. What do you think?
Mallory: No, I don't think so.
Then she ran off to play. I guess the only "Rabbit" she speaks is to (and for) her favorite imaginary friend, "Mr. Rabbit". She's had this friend for several years.

Tonight when I was laying down with her, saying prayers, etc., I asked her to tell me what she enjoyed most about today. She said, "I loved getting gummy bears! What do you like best, Mommy?" I told her I enjoyed watering the plants outside with her. She said, "Oh, me too!" And in the very same breath she added, "What did you like best about today, Mr. Rabbit? Oh, you liked getting a sucker? I didn't know you got a sucker! Well, I did too!!" Then she just giggled. :-)

Another ROFL moment for me was yesterday when she and I were getting dressed. She prissed into the bathroom and began brushing her hair ever so elegantly. Brushing one side, then the other, she admired herself in the mirror. In her most royal, "French-sounding" voice she said, "Mommy, I've come here to get my mammogram." I said, "What? You've come to get what?!?!" "My mammogram", she said in her royal voice without missing a beat." I just about LOST IT!!! Trying to keep my composure and not totally bust out laughing, I asked, "Mallory, what is a mammogram?" She said, "You know! It's when you go get your toenails and fingernails and hair done!" Well, DUH! I should have known! :-) I quickly told her I thought she was referring to a "manicure" and not a "mammogram".

You just never know what she'll say next!!! (Or to who!!!!) She told her Sunday school teachers that she was my bed partner Saturday night because Daddy went to the prison. Well, she was right!! But, Daddy was gone to the prison to play softball for the prison ministry for the church, not to do any time! :-)

What will she say next?!?!? ....