Video Friday - Power Scooter

Here's a quick video of Mr. Jack Jack crawling (well, scooting) around the living room.

Earlier he had been on his way to crawl through the exersaucer and instead pulled himself up into a seated position! That was the first time I had seen him do that! He almost does it in this video but then gets distracted and decides to keep going. 

He's a little stinker - always going faster when I say "I see you!!" :)

Down with the Bed

On Sunday morning, little mister was safely playing in bed while Mommy and Daddy were getting ready for church. This is where Mommy puts Jack when she needs him to STAY PUT, since putting him on the floor results in finding baby boy army crawling down our dusty hallway...

Jason peered in to check on him and found him STANDING UP in his crib! I missed it because Jason (rightly) rushed to get him, since his bed wasn't down all the way and he could have toppled out if he tried to! Sheeeeesh.

So Sunday evening Daddy put the bed all the way down so that if we find him standing up in there again, we'll just see his little eyebrows and not his chest leaning over. 

You are getting too big for your britches, little one!! :)

Birthday Party for the Birthday Boy

Yesterday was Jason's birthday! Whoo hoo! On Sunday, we had a small party with our immediate families to celebrate the "old man's" birthday. 

Jason's mom and dad made him a card with his baby picture on the front! 

Jack Jack looks a LOT like Daddy did!

Hunter, Jessica, Vanessa, Sam, Nick, Tim, Kim, Patricia, and Elizabeth 

(Ben was out of town and couldn't make it!)

We are so lucky to have our families so close to us! Thanks for celebrating with us!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JASON!!!

Today is my sweet hubby's birthday!!

Last year I posted this birthday message to him, and all of that still rings true and SO MUCH MORE!

It amazes me that when the Lord was knitting you together in your mother's womb, 

he was thinking of me and of the amazing life we would share together. 

I loved being your girlfriend. I loved being your fiancé. I LOVE being your wife. And...

I LOVE being your son's mommy. 

This time last year Jack was still snug in my tummy, and we had no idea what an amazing ride we would be on as PARENTS. We both agree that Jack is the greatest thing in this world. :)

Your first birthday as a DAD.

And you're the best. 

We love you more today than yesterday, but not as much as tomorrow.

Love, Mommy & Jack

Gatlinburg Getaway

Two weekends ago Jason, Jack and I met up with Hunter and Elizabeth in Pigeon Forge to stay at a cabin for the weekend! Our cabin was so awesome!!

When we first got there, Jack and I sat on the porch swing and admired the view!

Friday night we put Jack to bed and watched the Zoo Keeper movie (which was goofy and funny - "I can DO this!"), and hoped for a restful night. Notsomuch... Jack woke up and SCREAMED at 12am, 2am, 4am... and the paper thin walls didn't do much to block the noise for our other housemates. :( Sorry guys! 

The next morning we made breakfast at the cabin then headed into downtown Pigeon Forge for some outlet shopping. The boys shopped more than we did! But we all got something fun. :)

When we got home after shopping on Saturday, Elizabeth jumped out of the car and pointed out a big turkey! The boys got a chance to see it (I missed it) and then we got to see it fly away.

I missed seeing the turkey because I was too busy snapping photos of sleeping beauty. :)

I love how adorable he looks all conked out.

Another beautiful view.

Possibly my favorite picture. :) He looks SO BIG here!!

...And SO TINY here! Haha!

After a long day of shopping, then an afternoon back at the cabin (me and Jack took naps, Jason got in the hot tub, and H & L went for a run), we went to the Melting Pot for dinner! We all had gift cards that Jessica gave us for Christmas, so we decided to have a fun fondue dinner. 

Weeeeeeell... it was 8 o'clock when we got there, and our quirky waitress Tatiana said that it would take 2 to 2 1/2 hours for our dinner... Say WHA??? It was starting to get close to Jack's bedtime at this point and I just knew he was going to go nuts while we were there AND I had a headache that made me grumpier than one of the 7 dwarfs. 

Favorite quote from the night:

Me (as we were enjoying the 1st of 4 courses): "What do we need to do to let you know when we're ready for the next course?"

Tatiana: "You no like your cheese?"

Little man ended up being reeeeeally good the whole time.

Jason with the "search and rescue" tool.

The BEST part of the whole night, of course, was the dessert. Oh my word. AMAZING. When we go back, we will skip all the other stuff and go straight for dessert!! I could have licked the pan!

It ended up being 10:30 before we left, but luckily once we all fell into bed, Jack only woke up once and barely made a peep then. Whew! Thank goodness!

The next morning we went to the Apple Barn for breakfast, and Jack and Uncle Hunter played hide and seek - basically, lower your head then lift your head! It was precious. 

We had a wonderful time with Hunter and Liz!! We LOVE you guys!

Babbling at it's Best

Little mister has not stopped talking for 2 weeks. :) This video is a great representation of exactly how he is right now! Observant, funny, chatty, loud, and just plain FUN!  

Around 1:55 he sticks his tongue out and makes some "ma" sounds! He's been doing that for about a week, but can't do it on command like he can with "da-da". Hey - I'll take it!

At 3:05 he does pattycake (which he loves, by the way) and at 3:35 he does "happy and you know it". He LOVES to clap! 

I am so lucky to be doing my dream job and spending every day with this sweetie pie!!

Mom's Painting

Several months ago, I saw this pin on Pinterest and filed it away as "Could Mom paint this for me?" 

Let me go back a little. 

In the last year, my mom has discovered a passion and talent for painting! She painted this for Jack's room and then began to do paintings for other friends.

She has done many more and her skill has continued to increase - each new painting amazes me! (I need to do a whole post showing all her masterpieces...)

So when I asked her if she could paint this "Four Seasons" painting, I looked forward to seeing what she could do. But I was NOT PREPARED for how amazing it would be!! It is PERFECT!!

She outdid herself. Completely.

I originally wanted to put them in our hallway, but it is way too beautiful not to put on full display in the living room.

It fits perfectly in that spot and kicks up the color factor in there. 

So for the full effect... here's our living room in January 2009 and today March 2012:

Thank you Mom for giving us a BEAUTIFUL work of art!!

UPDATE: How could I have possibly forgotten this part?! I put off hanging the paintings because I knew they would have to be level and equal distance and all that stuff that requires measuring and brain cells I didn't feel like using. So when Cara came over after Sam & Vanessa's shower,  she helped me put it up! It would most definitely still be sitting on the floor if it weren't for her! Thanks B!!

Check out the Our Home page for a few more new living room pictures.

Signal Shower for Sam & Vanessa

Last Sunday (3/11/12) there was a shower for my big brother Sam and his fabulous fiancé Vanessa at their church! It was a beautiful day with friends and family!

Here are a bunch of pictures from the day!

Cara & Katie

Me & Emily

Emily & Cara

Alex & me

Vanessa's grandmother, the bride, and her momma - isn't this the BEST picture?! I love it.

Aunt Angie, Granny, me, Vanessa, Mom, Mamaw, and Aunt Holly - the "Guin" side of the fam

Vanessa's bridesmaids

Cara, Kristin, me, & Emily - Kristin's first youth girls (minus Bri!)

the bride with the wonderful hostesses! Kristin, Emily, V, Kim, and Martha

Then Sam came by to help pack up all their goodies!

Sam with Granny (left) and Mamaw (right) 

[our Dad's mom and our Mom's mom, respectively]

"Look at ALL THIS STUFF we got!!"

Momma with Sambo

...and finally, me with my future SISTER-in-law!! :)

Love you guys! Can't wait for the big day!!