8 months old!

This past Monday was Jacob's 8 month birthday anniversary! It's been a little while since I've updated the blog and since then our little man has definitely changed. I am finding it harder and harder to be disciplined about taking pictures and regularly updating everyone since having started nannying and working at the hospital when I can. Life sure gets busy! Despite how crazy things have been though it has been such a blast the few times Mike and I get to get down on the floor and experience playing with our sweet little boy. My favorite time is just after Mike gets home from work when all three of us are laying on the family room carpet and enjoying each others company. We adore watching Jacob laugh, learn and play as he rolls around from toy to toy. In the past couple months he has started rolling all over the place. It is fun to place a toy just out of reach and watch him figure out that by rolling he can get his toy without any problem. We have discovered, though, that he really is only good at rolling in one direction, so, once he hits a piece of furniture or wall after rolling that direction, he eventually gets frustrated and Mommy or Daddy has to pick him up and put him back in the middle of the room. Pretty soon I'm sure he will be able to get around without any help at all. He also started sitting up at about 7 months. His balance still needs a little work but he does great with the support of a few pillows behind him to prevent any head banging on the floor ;).

Jacob's facial expressions are also multiplying. He has just started giving us this huge squinty eyed smile every time one of us says "hello" or "I love you". Plus we have found that he is ticklish which makes me incredibly happy...now I'm not the only one who can be tickle tortured in our family! We continue to adore Jacob and look forward to the next new thing that he will start doing.

Mike and I are also doing well. I have been busy working with Sophie and Emma, every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. They are very sweet little girls and are great with Jacob, making him laugh incessantly. I also have been picking up about 8 hours of work in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit every week. It has been great being able to pick and choose when I work in order to coordinate times that my Mom can watch Jacob. Our family had been such a blessing to us and we love having them close by. Mike has also been busy working at Continuant and has made a few great sales in the last month. We thank God for His provision and that He has blessed us both with great jobs. As well as working, Mike continues to attend classes with the University of Phoenix, and will be finishing up his degree requirements this coming December. After that, he will just need to finish a few general education classes and it'll be "pomp and circumstance" for him. He's hoping to complete everything a year from this June.

We also had a wonderful Easter, sharing it with my family here in Gig Harbor. Reflecting on our Saviour's death and resurrection fills us with such joy because of His great love for us and our freedom from fear and death. Thank you Lord for your great sacrifice and victory over death!

Sitting up like a big boy

Two of Jacob's many looks

The park across the street

Playing in the playpen outside

Bath time mohawk attempt...not quite enough hair yet.

It's Been 2 Wonderful Years...

...since I walked down the aisle and married the most wonderful man in the world. It's so hard to believe how fast time has flown by that Mike and I have already been married 2 years. While it doesn't seem that long ago since we exchanged our vows I feel like I have known and been with him forever. My husband has such a servants heart and treats me with such loving kindness. For our anniversary we experienced our first 24 hour period alone since Jacob was born. It was heavenly! Mike took me to stay up in Seattle at Hotel Vintage, with rooms named after different wineries across the country. We also had a romantic dinner at a fancy restaurant down on the waterfront accompanied by a moonlit walk along the piers. We spent the entire day up in Seattle on Saturday visiting the aquarium and the flower and garden show that was going on at the convention center. While every inch of me loves cuddling and spending time with our adorable son, I am reminded how much I crave and need time alone with my amazing husband. I am truly loved and couldn't be happier. I love you Mike so much and I look forward to celebrating many more anniversaries in our future.

Our Anniversary dessert

6 months

Jacob is now 6 months old and to celebrate we took a trip to the Dr.'s office for some shots. Poor little guy. :( He's doing great though despite his shots. All smiles and hardly any complaints as always. His length and weight have seemed to plateaued in the last couple months. Length didn't change at all, which I think may be the nurse who measured him at 4 months' fault ;), and his weight is now 18lbs 14oz which puts him in the 75th percentile. No longer off the charts but still a big boy. His most favorite things to do are sitting in his little jumparoo and playing with all the toys that surround him, being tossed in the air by mommy and daddy, playing in his bath every night, and chewing on his feet anytime mommy takes his socks off. He's eating three meals a day consisting of fruit and vegetables with rice cereal thrown in there occaisionally. He seems to love almost anything I feed him except he no longer will eat rice cereal just plain and doesn't much appreciate peas. He now is rolling from his tummy to back without any difficulty at all making it really difficult to have tummy time. For meals now we busted out the high chair and he sits there so expectantly while I warm up the fresh baby food that I have frozen. He just so cute and I am addicted to spending every moment I can with him. He loves his Daddy and every time Mike get home from work no matter where Jacob is hanging out in the house he always greets Daddy with a huge smile. What blessing these past 6 months have been.

Nana and Granddad

Jacob sure loves his Nana and Granddad a lot. What a lucky little man to be loved so much by so many people and two people who are a big part of that loving are my mom and dad. My parents have allowed us to feel at home over at their house time and time again by offering us dinner and giving us a chance to just kick back due to the fact that they have created an environment for Jacob just like home. We are able to put him down for bed in the crib my parents have set up downstairs. Let him chill in the bouncy seat or swing while we eat, and now there even is a new jumparoo that he can play with whenever we are over there. Thank you so much Nana and Granddad for all your love and affections. We love you!

There's that tongue that he loves to stick out so much

Chillin' with Granddad

Jacob and Aunt Julianne

Playing in the Sun

What beautiful sunny days we have had! Jacob, Sophie, Emma and I have had a blast playing outside and enjoying the sun. Sophie and Emma have and amazing big toy in their backyard and there is even a little bucket swing that Jacob gets to enjoy. I put him in it for the first time and he seemed to really enjoy being pushed back and forth by Sophie. Every time he came forward his little feet kicked into my chest and I fell back pretending that he was knocking me over. He thought that was hilarious. I sure have fun with my little man!
Sophie liked pushing Jacob...and Jacob was pretty happy about it too.

I sure LOVE him a lot

Sweet little Emma with a jammy face.

Sweet Sophie

Emma watering plants

Uhoh no more water!

Our days with Sophie and Emma

Well it's been about one month now that I've been heading over to the Krueger house to watch Sophie and Emma. We spend our days mostly playing with dolls, reading books, and making up games that no one would have ever thought of. It's amazing how much time I've spent sitting and laying on the floor in the past month. Between playing with Jacob and now the girls it's surprising that I have stand up straight anymore. Whenever I get to play with Sophie and Emma I am always either the character of snow white or which ever male role fits in Sophie's imaginary story line (nobody else ever wants to be the boy :) ). The girls are great with Jacob and when he goes down for a nap they love having my full attention. I look forward to getting to know them better as the months go by.

Emma twirling

My character 50% of the time :)

Sophie always has some amazing imaginary games.

Jacob's Dedication

This past Sunday we had Jacob dedicated at our church. We were so blessed to have so much family present and surrounding Jacob as we promised to raise our son knowing and understanding who God is and that He has a plan and purpose for his life. My greatest prayer is that God will mold Mike and I into the parents we need to be so that our little man will grow into a man after God's own heart. We appreciate the love and support that our church offers us and the prayers said for us and Jacob by our pastor during the service. Our excitement grows every day as we watch Jacob grow and learn and wonder what God has in store for our sweet boy.