December

December was a month to remember as it was full of celebrations and holiday fun!

We started off the month celebrating my little nephew who is due at the end of January.  I helped throw Kellie’s "Mommy-to-Bee" baby shower in Huntington Beach.  We had a fun time showering her with gifts!

 My first attempt at a diaper cake.  Thank goodness for Pintrest and Etsy!

  Eric's mom, Aunt Lynn and Cousin Allison came for the celebration.

The shower hostesses!  Kellie's mom and sisters and two friends from her hometown.

Kellie and I at the shower.  I'm very exctied to be an aunt!

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Next came the holiday tea at my church.  The event runs for three nights and I got to enjoy the festivities twice; once with my mom and then once with women from my Bible study and Eric’s mom.  I decorated one of the tables which was a lot of work but a fun way to start celebrating Christmas. 

 Mom and I before the tea.

 

 Here's the table I decorated. 

Mom helping with the centerpiece.

I found a baby santa suit at a kids' consignment store nearby so I had some fun taking pictures of Santa Jack.  He was very cooperative! EJ wanted in on the fun too so we put his Santa Shamu hat on.

 After a few hectic days of finishing up my work for the semester and packing, we headed to Colorado. 

By take-off Jack was ready for a nap.  Amazingly, Eric got him to sleep and they took a nice nap together.  I love how Jack buried his head into Eric's chest.

Eric headed to Nebraska for a few days of hunting and I got to catch up with some friends. 

 Here I am with my best friends from college.  It's been five years since we were all together.  At dinner we toasted to 20 years of friendship! 



Trish and I went to the Broncos-Browns game.  The weather was perfect and it was a great game.

After the game we met up with Katy and Nziza to meet Katy's new baby, Maggie.

Katy and Maggie.  She's a month old and there's a smile!

It was great catching up with everyone and I loved holding little Maggie.  She was so light compared to Jack!

Eric had a successful hunting trip and once he was back we were able to get together with the Knabenshues.

The kids loved their Christmas present and it looks like Jack is about to pull hard on Terri's hair in this picture.  Sorry Terri!

The whole gang (minus the sixty pounds Chris lost this year!)

We had our traditional breakfast at the pancake house with Tricia.  This time EJ got the Ho-Ho-Ho pankcakes that were stuffed with red and green M&Ms and sprinkles!

Jack's Baby Dedication

While we were in Colorado we wanted Pastor Keita to dedicate Jack.  We had a small ceremony with my parents, Tricia, Eric’s mom and his brother Brian.  Keita and I used to work together and he became my mentor.  Five years after that , he performed our marriage ceremony and five years later he did EJ’s baby dedication.  He has been there for Eric and I in the good times and in the bad times and he always has an important perspective for us to consider.  God has used him in significant ways in our life.  For Jack’s ceremony he shared Ephesians 1:15-21:

“ For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people,  I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.  I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.  I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,  and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.”

After Keita read the scripture, he anointed Jack with oil and prayer over him and our family.  It was a beautiful ceremony.  Here we are after the ceremony with our family and friends.

Fall Soccer

We had our first foray into organized sports this fall.  EJ played soccer on a 5 year-old team.  He had one practice and one game each week.  He really loved it and developed some great skills.

 The team coach couldn't make it to the last game so Eric had to cover for him.  He did a great job!

 EJ really liked playing defense.  He wasn't afraid to block other defenders as they took shots towards the goal.

 He scored two goals during the season.  The last goal was the game winner! He was so proud!

 The kids got really neat soccer trophies and had a fun pizza celebration on the last day.

Next up...t-ball!

8 months!

Jack is 8 months old!  His personality is delightful.  He rarely cries and seems to love life.  He is crawling now but prefers to stand up.  He will be walking very soon. EJ walked at 10 months and Jack is on course for that too. 

He is such a cute naked baby!  The rolls and rolls of fat are adorable on him!  He loves to look out of windows.  He is quite fond of the view from his bedroom while standing on his changing table.

 It's so fun having a baby at Christmas time.  Jack loves the Christmas tree lights and ornaments.  He also likes to hold a candy cane in each hand throughout the day.

 We put "jack" ornaments at the bottom of the tree so he can pull them off and play.  It's important to me to not stiffle his curiousity so I just have to stay one step ahead of him.

 

When we go to the park Jack loves to swing.  He also loves watching his brother run around and play.  Occasionally, I can get a picture of them playing together like this one:

EJ continues to be a wonderful big brother and Jack absolutely adores him!  We are so blessed!

Happy Halloween!

7 months

 Here's Jack at 7 months!  He is happy and full of life!  He is sleeping through the night now.  Eric spent a couple nights sleep training him so he would get used to not nursing during the night.  He responded so well and is sleeping great.


Jack started eating rice cereal and baby food this past month and he likes it all.   Occasionally EJ will offer to feed him and it's quite funny.  Jack adores EJ and EJ is very sweet to Jack.

Here's a shot of his first tooth.  You may have to zoom in to see it but it's there.  Let's just say he's not afraid to use it!  Nothing quite prepares you for getting bit while nursing.  I am trying to teach him not to do it but he's been a slow learner on that front.

I am grateful he hasn't started crawling yet.  He pushes up on all fours but hasn't started rocking yet.  He likes to stand and EJ is the perfect height to hold him.  He wears 9 mo/12 mo clothes and is in the 90th percentile all around.  We grow 'em big around here.

Standing in his baby shoes.  Baby shoes are the best!

Here he is at the beach.  Now that he is sitting up well he can sit on the sand.  You can see some of it made it's way to his mouth but he didn't seem to mind. 

We are so grateful for this little guy and the joy he brings to our family!  We are looking forward to the fun fall and winter holidays coming up.