2.2.12

This is the day Jack put his hand and foot prints into the cement. It also happens to be Jack "Old Man" Courtney's birthday. We will constantly be reminded of the reason we chose to name our little man Jack. Call it coincidence or whatever you like but I think it shows how he will forever be watching over us.

3 Things...

These are the 3 things that have consumed my mind for the past 6+ months.





We have finally started on the house. It has been a lot of fun seeing Matthew's plan take shape. He designed the house himself and I just threw in my tidbits here and there. He has done an amazing job lining up all the contractors while I sit back and enjoy the new view. I have a feeling this maternity leave won't be me cooped up in a house. I'll be running around or surfing the internet looking for fixtures, paint colors, etc. Building a house is a lot of work but we are so thankful to be able to have the opportunity to construct the exact plan perfect for our little family.

Jack has been growing like crazy. He's starting to get a little pudgy behind. He goes in for his 18 month check up this next week. It is mind boggling how fast the time goes by. He is very independent but loves to be around people. He and Lucy are best friends but fight like brother and sister. It reminds me of my sister and I. He is slowing understanding that his little sister is not in his tummy but mommy's. He will eat just about anything which is nice but if he doesn't like it, it's coming right back out. He loves his daddy. They are out right now checking on the Henderson's cows. He loves to go and be outside. He had his first bloody nose this last week which scared me because I couldn't get it to stop but didn't really bother him to much. Poor guy has two parents with curly hair so his hair is like a crazy man. He loves playing over at the new house. Running around with his dad, playing drums on the plumbing pipes and walking between the studs.





Miss Lily is still growing. In a little over 5 weeks, we will finally get to hold her. I absolutely can not wait. Everything has been going pretty good with this pregnancy. The last couple weeks my hips started bothering me, I knew it was coming since she has stayed so low. Still haven't gained as much weight this time around but man I feel like it.

Christmas

This is Jack's new Thomas the train but notice Judd is the one enjoying the new ride, while Jack does the work!




We have experienced Christmas morning everyday since Jack first saw his train table. I think he goes to bed at night thinking it was all a dream. Every morning he walks out and says a big "WOOOWWW!" We had a great Christmas celebrating the birth of our King with our families. You can truly see the magic of the season if you look at the sparkle in a kids eye. Jack was spoiled to the max. I'm pretty sure he is now the proud owner of every tractor sold at the John Deere store.

Baby girl and I are doing great. She is still quite the mover. I enter my 3rd trimester on Monday. Can't believe how fast this pregnancy has gone. I think the running around with Jack has made it seem fast. 2012 is going to be a fun year with many changes for our little Jack. We're hoping all the transitions go smoothly. Matthew and I are so curious how he is going to act when little sister makes her arrival.

I hope to be a better blogger in the new year. Matthew spoiled me with a new camera so, I hope to have lots of good pictures of Mr. Jack.

Hello Again...

Hi Strangers ~

We have been going non stop lately. We are have started on our new home this week. It has taken a lot of time getting bids, agreeing on a plan and finalizing everything. We are thrilled to finally be starting. It's going to make for an interesting winter/spring considering we're expecting a little girl on April 2nd. So, our time has been a little occupied with her as well. The house will probably finish up a little after she makes her arrival. We are truly thankful for the gifts we have been given. It's going to be an exciting 2012 for us.

Jack is a mess. He wears out the sign please. He has really began to copy everything we do. He loves going with his daddy and papa Mike on the tractors. We have been trying to get a good picture made for our christmas card but all of them make us sad because he looks so grown up. Where has our little baby gone? It seems like just yesterday he would lay in my arms for hours. The center of attention is where he loves to be most. Matthew was telling me the other day, he didn't know where Jack gets his never meeting a stranger, talking/greeting everyone he sees personality. I had to confess that may have come from me. Here are a few pictures of what he has been up to lately.

Smash Time

We celebrated our little Jack this past week. It is so hard to believe it has already been a year. We are so thankful the Lord chose us to be his parents. He is truly a pure joy to be around. He is so content with life. He loves being outside, which presents a problem when the temp is 100 degrees plus. I found myself looking over the thousands of pictures from the last year trying to remember each day. They have gone by so quickly. He is like a flash. If you turn around he is gone. Most of the time, he'll be found in Judd's room playing with the trains. He loves to follow Judd around and giggle with Lucy. It is so much fun to hear them talking and laughing with one another. He has grown so much in the last couple months. He is now 19.15 pounds and 28.5 inches tall. He doesn't like being held really anymore because he loves being on the move. He isn't walking yet but he is getting braver each day by letting go. I personally enjoy him not walking because when he does begin to walk he'll be even quicker. He had a blast taking his first bites of cake. He didn't quite know what to do with it but after he did he kept saying "mmm, mmm!" Here are a few pictures from his birthday party.

Family Vacation...

We have spent the last week visiting family in New Mexico. It is always so nice to get away from our everyday life. Matthew's aunt and uncle invited us up to their place. They even offered to watch Jack for a day to give Matthew and I a chance to spend a day alone. Jack had many firsts on this trip. He was a champ in the car. He hardly made a peep except for his excessive pointing out the windows at things. We rode a tram up Sandia Mountain, rode a train to Santa Fe, tried new fruits and veggies, went to the zoo and cut a new tooth. He is now really trying to say words. He will say cow, deer and ball consistently. I made a comment to him about a baboon monkey's bootie and well of course we had a repeat on the word bootie. Our trip was a blast. Matthew and I went white water rafting one afternoon with his uncle Jack. It was sooo much fun. We are already talking about going again sometime. When I get our photo cd I'll post the pictures of our rafting trip.





Now it's back to reality.