5 Month Birthday!

We are absolutely in shock that 5 months have already passed since Jack came into our lives! Each day, we feel more and more blessed to have such a wonderful family! Jack is giggling constantly, enjoying peek-a-boo, holding toys, eating rice cereal, and reading books (a few favorites: "Is Your Mama a Llama?" "Guess How Much I Love You?" " Goodnight, Moon" "The House That Jack Built" " Dr. Seuss ABC's" and "Monet's Garden"--- actually, he loves all books!)

Jack is getting tougher to photograph with his teddy! He is way more interested in rolling over than laying on his back for a picture... but here is the official 5 month picture (that required both Mommy and Daddy photographers!)

During the day when just one photographer was working (Mommy) this was the best we could do in the way of a teddy bear picture... but I still think it is pretty cute!

This just may be my all time favorite Jack picture to date...

Visit with Maria and Owen

Maria came for a visit last week! You know what that means... she captured the cutest pictures!

I am so amazed by Maria's talent in photography!

Jack and Owen (Maria's son) are growing so quickly- and so beautifully! I feel very lucky to have met Maria and Owen...and very happy when I think about the boys growing up together!

I can hardly believe that Owen is already crawling and pulling himself up on furniture and is very mobile...and he isn't even 7 months old yet! :)

If you are in the Cleveland area and would like to have Maria capture the beauty of your little one, visit her blog at
http://www.manually-focused.blogspot.com/ to contact her!

Meeting Gram and Bob!

We had such a fun weekend visiting the our family in Michigan! Jack was so lucky to meet his Great Gram and Grandpa Bob! We had a great time listening to Jack giggle, watching him roll over, reading, and enjoying our time together!

Gram and Bob- thank you so much for making the long trip...we are so thankful that we were able to spend time with you...we will cherish our memories for a lifetime! Can't wait to see you again!

Dad, Courtney, and Abbey- thank you so much for hosting the fun weekend! We love you very much!

4 generations

Gram and Jack

Abbey and Jack

Our Anniversary...

We celebrated our 4 year Anniversary last night as a family with a delicious dinner at home...and it was magical! I was so overwhelmed with emotion as I sat at our dining room table with the most wonderful husband and son as we shared dinner together as a family! The tall candle is our unity candle from our wedding!

Jack joined us at the table for dinner as he sat in his new little Bumbo seat. (Thank you for letting us borrow the seat, Michelle! Jack doesn't mind at all that it is pink!)

Daddy and Jack had a very in-depth conversation about the days events!

I made creme brule for dessert...yummy!

Cool kiddo

Jack and I took a walk yesterday...and he wore his new shades...what a cool kiddo!

Visit with Aunt Abbey

Abbey, Dad, and Courtney came for a visit this weekend! Although our time together flew by way too quickly, we had a wonderful time together! Dad and Courtney went to a wedding while Abbey, Jack, and I played together! One of the most fun things we did was paint letters for Jack's room. Abbey chose all of the paint colors, designed all of the letters, and we created a masterpiece for Jack's bedroom wall!

I know this picture is a bit dark, but I just had to post it! Jack is rolling over all by himself now!

Lots of love~

xoxo

4th of July weekend

Our wonderful 4th of July weekend began with some yard work! We planted flowers, weeded, and mulched! I guess it is better late than never to plant some posies!

Jayson, Tammy, and Cameron came over to our house to visit! Tammy and I took a walk in the park by our house and Cameron loved playing at the playground! Jack was sleeping soundly in his stroller as Cameron played.

Barry, Jack, and I went to Brock's to view the fireworks! We got a roof-top view of the beautiful display from Brock's new apartment! Jack watched the first 5 minutes of the fireworks, and then fell asleep on Mommy's shoulder for the rest of the show!

Barry and Jayson played for 3 hours at a camp-out! They sounded great and we really enjoyed listening to their music!

Mama Bear protects her cub...

FROM A HUGE BEE!

Jack was happily swinging in the kitchen as I was making lunch when a HUGE (ok-maybe not so huge) bee buzzed behind him in the kitchen window (with the blinds down). Mama Bear went into ultra-protection mode and wanted to immediately kill the unsuspecting bee that was hiding behind the blinds. I moved the entire swing with Jack still in it to the dining room to get him out of harms way! To ensure Jack's safety and the bee's certain death, Mommy decided that she should use the heaviest shoe that she owned to smash the bee (instead of the light-weight flip-flop that she was wearing). Unfortunately, Mommy did not think about shattering the class in her quest for safety! Oops!!!

Here is a cute picture I wanted to share... Jack with his Great-Grandma Gran. (Barry's Grandma). In just a few weeks, Jack will get to meet his other Great Gram (my Grandma). Jack is such a lucky little man to have so many family members that love him so much!