note to jack

i love your little hands i love your chunky baby feet. i love your little laugh. i love your sweet kisses. and i love your snuggle moods. youre cute in footie pajamas. youre cute in everything. i love your inquisitive nature. and even though it makes it hard to do things i love that you need me. i love how you want to eat like a big boy. i love that you love your racoon hat. i think bath time really is the best. i love how sweet you smell after a bath. i love dancing  amd going outside and reading books with you. i love you. i love your daddy. i love. i love. i love.

Fall Time

So Jack is almost 10 months old. It has been a busy few months and its getting busier. Jack is a professional crawler. He has taken a few steps and even more falls (which scare the heck out of me!) He has 6 teeth and they are the cutest teeth of ALL time (I know I am biased... but I dont care:))

I think that we are finally getting this whole work/life thing balanced out. Jack gets to spend a half day each week with each of his grandmas and his baby sitter fills in the blanks. I love that both grandmas are so willing to help and I think its really good for him to be able to spend that quality time with him. I was so worried at first that it might seem like a job to them but since its only one day a week I think its special for everyone involved.

I am working 3 to 4 half days a week- it doesnt sound like a lot and sometime I feel like I should be there more often but Im usually not that far behind and in the end I would rather be known as a good mom than someone who never misses a deadline... not that I support laziness... I just support finding a good balance and going with what works for each person. I never want to be "that mom" who acts like she has the only way. I have decided in that last few months that I dont care what others think about me as a mom. If it works then do it. And unless I ask for your opinion I probably dont want to hear it (and now im getting off of my soapbox):)

Family Picture by Kayla Russel

Things that Jack can do now:

He points...I know it sounds trivial but its funny
He dances- he loves to dance to jazz and blues or the Elmo song:)
He took 5 steps
He gives his dog brothers their "crunchies"
He gives kisses...but only when he feels like it
He loves his aunts and uncles
He is in 12 month clothing
He recently discovered the dogs water bowl- this is NOT cute
He also recently discovered the toilet- even LESS cute!!!
He loves going on walks and grocery shopping
He wont sit still for diaper change even if you beg- we are working on that one
He LOVES bath time
He waives "bye bye"- and i LOVE LOVE LOVE this!
He likes to feed himself

Jack sleeping on the ferry back from Mackinack Island

Im happy...not always smiling... but I would say Im pretty lucky that I get to spend life with my two favorite boys and our silly dogs<3

Love this boy<3

At Aunt Rae's wedding

6 Months

Jack is 6 months old today! I can NOT believe how fast time has gone!!! It seems like yesterday I was freaking out wondering how in the world was I ever going to handle being a mom ?!?!?!?! I wont say that its always easy (because its not lol) but I wouldnt trade Jack for the world. I never realized what we were missing until Jack came along and made everything perfect. Yesterday ty and I went out for the first time in a month and while we enjoyed the peace and quiet we both missed jack even more.



Things that I took for granted before Jack:

Long Showers
Eating with both hands (not using one to occupy a bored baby)
Sleeping in
Leaving the house quickly
Our dogs
Friday night movie dates

Things that I never realized I would love:

Little baby clothes fresh from the dryer
Baby yawns
Baby stretches first thing in the morning
Baby laughs
Huge drooley smiles
little baby feet covered in sand from the beach
The sound of my baby making small talk with his daddy
Snuggles with my 2 favorite boys
Enjoying a quiet nite with my husband while our little one sleeps in our happy home


I guess the list goes on and on and Im still getting used to the list of things I used to think were important merging with the
list of things that are now even more important and some how the chaos of it all makes my life complete.

Oh and on July 3rd.......... Jack said "dada".........and even though he doesnt know what it means

 i LOVE it xoxo

 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him- Luke 2:40

Love and Life and Worry

Being a mom to Jack is just the most breath taking experience of my life. I find myself just staring at him in awe. I see the best parts of myself in him and pray that he wont inherit the bad parts of me. I literally feel like I can see him growing and it scares me how quickly time flies by. Life is so fast! I am trying to make sure that I remember all of the amazing things that motherhood has brought into my life. I was watching Jack sleep tonight and praying for him and I felt like crying because he is just so beautiful and I want so much out of life for him. I want to protect him from the world and to make sure that he stays an innocent soul. I want God to watch over him and I pray that Jack will follow HIM.

Sometimes I wonder if it is possible to be too happy. I worry that things can be too good and that something bad is bound to happen. I have been praying that God will help me to just let go and give him all my worries. I read this tonight and need to remember it, "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus" Philippians 4:6-7.

Please God- Watch over my family and take care of us. Thank you for giving me the best family that I could ever imagine. I am absolutely in LOVE them!

3 Months Old!

This past weekend was Easter weekend AND Jack turned 3 months old. Time has just flown past so fast. We decided to celebrate Easter in Traverse City. We stayed at Grand Traverse Resort- the girls got massages, the boys golfed, we ate, swam, shopped and went to Petoskey. Petoskey has the cutest toy store ever and I have to take Jack back when he is bigger.

We took Jack swimming- He was too cute! He just looked around and smiled. He didn't cry- He loves the water. Things that Jack can do now are: Hold his head up, look around, grab things, suck his thumb (its too cute), laugh, smiles all the time, roll over from his back to his tummy and look up at us.

Uncle Dave calls Jack "Rex"- its silly but we all think that its funny. Aunt Rachel and Aunt Kath are so good with Jack and he just adores them both. Uncle Mark and Uncle Dan are also excellent with him and have changed him. They all take such good care of him:) Grandpa and Grandma Hart are the best- they bought him a Johnny Jumper, the cutest baseball hat, an Easter bunny, and a book about Easter. Grandpa and Grandma Hines were in Florida so we couldn't see them but they bought him some clothes and a silly duck that laughs and sings.

Things that I hope to never forget are: Big random smiles, making my baby laugh, and when he grabs my hands and holds on.

I love my family and couldn't live without them <3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3

Spring!

Im just loving this spring weather! The sheets are out drying on the line and the sun is warm and I am happy that winter is finally coming to an end! Jack loves being outside and I love showing him the flowers that are blooming - he smiles non stop and just stares at the great big world that is just waiting for him to explore. Ty and I take him for walks and its nice to just be able to get out and spend time together.

I loved the winter but Im glad to move on to the next season- Thank you God for the nice change:)

You & You & Me

My Favorite Pictures

The past month and a half have made me realize a lot about myself and what is important in life. Since Jack was born life has changed in so many ways. Some of the things that I hope I will never forget are... the first time I saw my baby's face, watching Ty fall in love with Jack instantly, realizing how important my family is and how much I need my mom, falling in love with Tyler at 3 AM when we are taking care of Jack, being exhausted and happy at the same time, and realizing that I am the luckiest person to have two amazing people that I can call my own little family.

I have also realized how important it is to make God the foundation of your life and your family... I have prayed more and talked more to God in the last month than I ever have before. And I have been realizing that I know nothing and that life is a fragile miracle and I'm so thankful that I have been able to assist God in the creation of a beautiful life. I pray every day that God will help me to be a good wife and mother.

Jesus hear the prayers of my heart and help me to be the woman that you want me to be.