Jack is One Years Old!

Well this was pretty much the fastest year of my life.  Jack is one!  We are having a Mickey Mouse birthday party for him on Saturday with a couple of friends. I've been busy making a few special decorations for the party.  In the meantime, here's what Jack has been up to:

*Loves to copy our noises

*Points to everything 

*Asks to be picked up, gets on knees and puts arms in the air

*Loves paper, finds every little speck and crumb on the floor

*Loves to swing 

*Still has 6 teeth but I swear the others are coming :)

He isn't pulling up yet or cruising on furniture which is fine with me.  He took a bit longer to crawl so I'm sure walking might be a couple months away still.  His legs seem very wobbly.  

Love this big little guy and all his funny expressions, big smiles and laughs, and cute sounds.  Happy Birthday Jack Jack!

Jack's Birth Day Story

Like I did with Eli, I'd like to share the story of Jack's arrival (to the best of my sleep deprived memory).

My pregnancy with Jack was different than with Eli.  I had contractions early on with Jack (the practice ones!).  I wondered how things would happen this time around.  I started having real contractions about 3 days before Jack arrived.  They weren't regular at all but they were waking me up at night.

The day before Jack was born (Saturday), we were walking around Whole Foods and I remember I would have to stop and breathe through the contractions.  Later on that night they were really picking up in frequency and getting stronger so I called Labor and Delivery and asked them at what point should I come in.  They said two-three mins apart for about an hour.  They were about 5-10 mins at that point.  Inconsistent.  

We had a little storm that night so I was glad we didn't have to leave during that.  I put Eli to bed (pausing during contractions while reading his bedtime story, haha).  I told him it was possible we might not be there in the morning but Jodie (our neighbor) would be there.  

Around 2am Sunday morning the contractions woke me up.  I started timing them.  They were very intense and getting closer together.  After about 45 mins or so I woke JR up and told him it was time to go.  I called Jodie (she was on standby) and she came over.  We headed to the hospital around 4am.  

They checked me out to make sure I was really in labor...uh yep.  My recollection of all the details aren't as clear as they were with Eli.  Everything went pretty smoothly, got my epidural.  They gave me a little bit of pitocin just to kick things off and that's all it took.  

The monitor was sounding off at the nurses station so the doctor came in to check it.  She checked my progress and said "oh dear, don't move or sneeze or laugh, this baby is almost out".  She rushed out really fast and came back with a team of people who started working really fast. Jack was born fast at 10:44am at 8lbs 21inches.

He didn't breathe right away and was really purple, that is my first memory of him.  They suctioned him and he started to cry finally but he got one point off of his Apgar score for his color at birth.  He didn't have any issues after that.  

We got some photos, foot prints and all cleaned up and we got to enjoy our time together.  After awhile JR went home to get Eli to meet his baby brother. He was so excited.  They stayed for awhile, opened his big brother present and then it was time for them to go.  That was a little sad because it was my first time ever being away from Eli overnight.

Seeing his baby brother for the first time!

I went with Jack to get his first bath after JR and Eli left.  I didn't sleep hardly a wink in the hospital. I finally fell asleep at one point and a nurse came in to draw my blood, at 5am!!  They took him to the nursery so I could get a nap but he cried right away so they brought him back.  I couldn't wait to go home and I was able to leave a day early. JR and Eli came to pick us up and we loaded Jack in the car.  It was so good to go home.

Eli's First Day of School

The day has arrived!  Eli  is officially a Pre-k student!!  We've been counting down for about two weeks.  He was really excited to meet the teacher yesterday.  JR met us at the school yesterday morning to see the classroom, drop off supplies and meet the teacher. 

Headed to meet the teacher!

Last night before bed Eli started saying how nervous he was and that he might be too scared to go to school.  I'm sure he was a little bit but I also know he was pretty tired so I think that might have had a little to do with it.  I wanted to do something fun to ease any jitters so I hung up some streamers and balloons in the hallway along with a sign.  When he woke up I told him I had a surprise for him and that definitely cheered him up!  He told me he wasn't scared anymore and really excited again.

First day of school decorations!

There are 20 kids in Eli's class.  His teacher is Mrs. Blevins and the teachers assistant is Mrs. Holden.  We were practicing their names on the way to school.  Eli couldn't remember Blevins so I told him it rhymed with Mevins and he got it, haha.  

We did a little practice drop off last night at the school so they could get the hang of it.  It was such a beautiful morning (humid but only 68!) so we all walked to school.  We dropped Eli off in front of the school where his teacher was waiting.  I felt excited for him right up until it was time to say goodbye and then I got a little teary eyed.  JR and I said goodbye and I told Eli I would be back at 11:25 to get him.  He still seemed really excited.  He looked at me a little funny when I said goodbye to him, he could probably tell I was a little upset but I did my best to keep it together for his sake.

We walked back home and then Jack and I went to Walmart to get Eli a little first day gift.  He's been wanting this Super Mario pillow (it's 2 feet long!).  We got it for him and a couple of new books and a package of M&M's to hide inside Mario's secret pocket.

Mario is as big as Jack!

It was finally time for me to pick up Eli.  Jack was still napping but I loaded him up in the car and he slept a little more.  We waited on the bench outside the school for a few minutes before Eli came out.  It was so cute watching all the little kids in the line.  

I saw Eli and gave him a big hug and we talked all about his day.  At first he couldn't remember anything but then it all came back to him.  He even recalled the name of the book "The Kissing Hand" and a song they sang at the library.  It was so fun hearing about his day.  They snacked on popcorn at school.  He is excited to go to school tomorrow!

Our New Swing Set

JR's boss Brent asked us if we were interested in his old swing set for FREE.  The only catch?  We had to take it down and haul it away ourselves.  JR had some help from our good neighbor Tom taking most of it apart.  After a couple of weekends, it was all laying in our yard.

JR took some time off from work over my birthday weekend and got started.  We organized all the loose parts and he went and bought replacement screws.  The swing set is about 5 or 6 years old so some of the screws were rusted and some of them just flat out broke when they were removed.  

There were a few challenges but for the most part it went together faster than we expected!  Thanks JR for all your hard work and sweat!!

Slide is ready!

Making progress.

Our neighbor Tom helping out.

JR finishing up.

Climbing the rock ladder...it's high!

Swinging for the first time!!!

Jack has his own swing too :)

We love our "new" swing set.  We plan on re-painting it when the weather gets cooler.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Sunday was my 32nd birthday.  JR's mom Annice is in town, she is moving here at the end of this month.  We are thrilled the time has finally come and we will have grandma around for the boys.  

JR, Annice and Eli went to Whole Foods on Saturday to gather dinner for my birthday.  Delicious grass-fed steaks, gigantic baked potatoes, and corn on the cob (oh and some champagne).  They also made a pit stop at Nothing Bundt Cakes for my birthday cake, gluten free vanilla chocolate chip cake.  Mmmmm.

It was a great birthday.  I got some yummy smelling lotions from Annice.  Thank you to everyone who made it a special day.  32 is going to be a great year :)

Birthday roses 

Birthday bundt cake!  Those candles were sparklers!