7.19.2010

Happy Birthday Little Man!

Happy Birthday to YOU!

Official 12 Month Picture

Sweet Jack - I can hardly believe it has been one year since you were born, I remember it like it was just yesterday!  That day was the first best day of my life and everyday since just seems to get better and better!  You are the sweetest little boy I've ever met and seldom do you cry or fuss.  You are always so happy, smiling, laughing or squealling and I am so happy that I am your mommy.  You are so silly and so smart, just like your daddy.  Every morning you push the button to open the garage door and every afternoon you push the button to close it.  When we get home from school you always start saying "dada, dada" when we walk inside and just smile so big when you see your daddy.  Little one, you melt our hearts and your daddy and I love you so much.  We love to just watch you play and see what funny thing you're going to do next. 

This is how you were sleeping when I checked on you last night.
Daddy and I laughed so hard - silly boy!

You are walking pretty good, but still fall when you get really excited and get to going too fast.  If I leave the gate open to the kitchen though, you can walk like a champ and even step over the bar without falling.  Most days I hold your hand and let you walk in and out of school.  You do get side-tracked by the dirt and want to sit and play in it, instead of keep walking.  Typical boy!

Jack, Grammy and Papa Jeff

Your newest little trick is making Indian noises.  It's so funny to watch you.   You'll make the noise then wait for us to imitate you before you'll do it again.  You don't say too many words, but every now and then you will try to repeat what we say.  You don't play "peek-a-boo" much anymore either, but you do like "Patty Cake".  You've also started "reading" your books more.  You just sit and flip through them looking at the pictures or feeling of the different textures.  You have also started dancing, or rocking back and forth, when we turn on music.  You are just too cute!!

More pics from the photo shoot can be seen HERE

You are beginning to eat "real" food much better and are officially off the bottle.  I am so proud of you!  It took a few days and you are still adjusting to drinking from a cup only, but you get better and better with each passing day, and you're doing really well on whole milk.  You will eat almost anything I give you, but I do think the chicken and dumplings and chicken alfredo are your favorites.  And, you love your mexican food!!  Last week alone, you had taco meat one night, fajita meat another night and an entire beef enchilada with rice and beans and corn tortilla when we went to Tinos.  You are definitely my child!  You even say "mmmm" when you eat something you really like.  I think you have a sweet tooth too, because you dug into some cake this weekend and were not real happy when I decided you had had enough. 


We have your one year check-up tomorrow, so we'll find out just how big you actually are then.  I'm guessing at least 27 lbs and 31 inches.  And at the rate you're eating, I don't forsee you slowing down anytime soon!

You were only 4 weeks old when these pictures were taken and so tiny!  Your daddy and I are so blessed to be your parents and are so thankful for the precious little boy you have become.  You have filled our lives with a joy we never could have imagined.  We are excited to see what the next year brings!

Happy Birthday Little Man!
We Love You so much!

Jack's Stats:
weight: 26lbs
height: 32.5 inches (I don't think this is right.  We'll measure when we got home.)
clothes: 18-24 months, some 2T depending on brand
2 hour afternoon nap
in bed by 7:30 (most nights)
up by 7:30 (most mornings)
no more formula - YAY!
16 oz whole milk and water
3 meals and 2 snacks
4 bottom teeth and 4 top teeth

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7.18.2010

Beach Monkey Party Success

We had Jack's FIRST Birthday Bash on Saturday at our house. If you've been reading my blog for a while, then you know this party has been months in the making and I'm so happy to say it was a SUCCESS!  Even though it was 100+ degrees here in Texas on Saturday, Randy still grilled hamburgers and hot dogs and we had cake and a banana split bar outside.  The kids even played in the kiddie pool for a while.  And, our little "home improvement" project actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise.  We're building a patio cover and the guys got up the support beams on Friday, so we were able to put up tarps (think FEMA blue) and have some shade.  It was pretty tacky, but better than nothing.  I'll post pics of the patio project later in the week.  It's going to be SUPER nice!!  I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking.

Resting up before the big party.

Jack and Kendall loved the little pool and I LOVED how the banner turned out!

The cake was really cute, but I wanted it to have brighter colors and some reds and oranges, but o'well.  It did taste good and Jack enjoyed it!  We gave the little fans as favors for the adults to help keep cool.  I had really cute party favor boxes for the kids, but I forgot to take a picture.  They were stuffed with a monkey shaped cup, mini monkey beach ball, bubbles and a lei.

Jack's first car - a cozy coupe - and just like any new car, this is just the temporary plate, the real one will be here in a few days.  HA!

Jack with Grandad and Memaw - his great-grandparents.

Hollywood Jack and Grammy

We thank everyone for making Jack's first birthday so special.  I wish we would have taken more pictures, but we were too busy having fun!


Sunday morning we had an appointment with our fabulous photographer, Jennifer, for Jack's one year pictures. I think we got really cute pictures and can't wait to see them all!! Here are a few my parents snapped. I'll post the link to the sneak peek when Jennifer gets it posted. 

Mommy, Daddy and Jack

My mom made this little outfit.

It has the cutest cupcake with "JACK" on the front.

Grammy and Papa Jeff

Mama and Jeff - Thank you so much for all of your help with the preparations for Jack's party.  We could not have done all of it without you.  Randy and I are so thankful for all you do for us.  We love you!

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I hate we couldn't celebrate together, but I'm sure you had an AWESOME birthday!  You're birthday present should be complete sometime this week!
I love you! 

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7.16.2010

One HOT Friday!

Yep, it's one HOT Friday here in Texas!  The high for today is 98, but will feel like 104, and for Jack's big party tomorrow, it's going to be 99 and feel like 107.  Fantastic!  Much to my dismay, I guess we'll be holding our "Beach Monkey" party indoors; not to mention my backyard looks like a construction zone right now thanks to the "perfect" timing of a home improvement project.  More about that later.

Alright, it's Friday again and that means Mama M is hosting 5 Question Friday, so click on over and join the fun!




1. Do you collect anything?
Sorta.  My mom gives me a Precious Moments figurine every year on my birthday.  So, I have quite a collection of those.  

2. Name 3 celebrities that you find good looking.
Oh that's easy!

Kenny Chesney
So hot! 
Cowboy Hat, Guitar, Love Songs... need I say more?

Jason Segel
He's just so cute and funny and has that "boyish" charm about him.

Vince Vaughn
Oh how I love him!  He's so darn funny!!! 
And, I kinda think he resembles Randy which makes me love him that much more! HA!

3. Do you have any scars?
If so, what's the story behind it (them?)?
I have little burn marks here and there.  After all, I do work in a kitchen!  But I do have one very special little scar on my tummy from where Jack was born. (I'll share more about his birth next week.)

4. What is a food that you like to eat, but others might think it's gross or weird?
I'm not really sure.  I don't eat to many "exotic" foods.  Ha!

5. Have you ever seen a tornado in real life?
Does a hurricane count? 
In September of 2008, some co-workers and I were helping with relief efforts in Baton Rouge after Hurricane Gustav, when we got a call to go to Beaumont, TX.  We hopped in the car and drove to Beaumont the day before Hurricane Ike was supposed to hit.  The 3 of us sat in a hotel room, with no electricity (it was HOT) and watched as Hurricane Ike destroyed the Texas coast.  Talk about one scary, unforgettable night!

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7.15.2010

Thoughtless Thursday {and a WINNER}

***If you are visiting from a blog hop, WELCOME to JUMPING JACK!***
Please do not feel obligated to follow, but do leave a comment so I know you stopped by!
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It's Thoughtless Thursday over at Life in the Fulmer Lane, so I thought we'd play along! 
So Happy Thursday and hop on over to join in the fun!

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Is this not the cutest little boy you ever did see??


We've let his hair get so long it has to be tamed brushed!


And here is the cutest party hat and bib I've ever seen which that little boy will be wearing at his
BIG FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY
this weekend!


And it matches these swim trunks just perfectly!

Thanks so much Golden Shop!
You are AWESOME!

And, just because I am so proud... here's a picture of the pillowcase I made last night for a friend's daughter.
Apparently teenage girls need cutesy pillowcases for sleepovers these days!  HA!  Hopefully I can make a rag quilt to match with the extra fabric!

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And the WINNER for the Diaper Clutch giveaway is Heather from


Email me your address so I can pass your info along to Megan from MiaDolce.

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Weight Loss Challenge Update:
Starting Weight July 1st: 149.6 lbs

Current Weight July 15th: 147.4 lbs
Total lost: 2.2lbs or 1.5%
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7.14.2010

Monkeying Around


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Don't forget to click HERE to enter MiaDolce's boutique diaper clutch giveaway!

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Linking up with
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We Got a Make-Over!

Yay!  We got a make-over!!  What do you think about our new diggs?  I like the polka-dot border and column dividers, and I think I like the background.  Maybe a little busy?  But the header is so plain that maybe the busy background compliments it.  Who knows?!?!  My creativity is lacking and I'm definitely NOT right brained.  HA!  Plus I should be getting ready for Jack's party, cleaning, doing laundry, sewing a few birthday gifts, etc and not giving my bliggity blog a face-lift!  Oh well, eventually everything will get done!  And, a special thanks to the girls at Scrap Matters for the elements used in my design.
Tell me what you think about the new design!

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Don't forget to click HERE to enter MiaDolce's boutique diaper clutch giveaway. 
Entry deadline is tonight at 11:59pm CST.  Good Luck!
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7.13.2010

The Loudest Toy

Do you see that happy face?  I'm quite certain he is so happy because this little box makes A LOT OF NOISE!!!  Jack has a million toys that make sounds - the little phone in the picture speaks numbers and has a few ring tones, for example.  We also have a Farm, which sings songs, makes animal noise and such, we have a Baby Einstein table which speaks in multiple launguages, we have a singing rabbit, countless noisy books and we have a ball popper toy which, until yesterday, I thought was the loudest toy we owned... but I was WRONG!


This little box is the LOUDEST TOY we own and on its own, makes absolutely no sound!  The only sound it should have is a little clank when the shapes are dropped properly through the top!



But combine a tile floor, this little box and my Jack and you have a noise maker!!  He drags the box back and forth across the tile and the faster he goes, the louder the noise gets.  It is quite funny to watch because it goes on back and forth, back and forth, louder and louder and then he just stops and smiles. 

And, just in case someone thinks a drumset would be a good birthday gift for him... it's really not necessary, he is doing just fine with the box! HA!

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Click HERE for giveaway information and entry.
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