The pictures tell the story...

Some may think that only big trips and celebrations are blog worthy. But, in my opinion, it's the seemingly mundane, everyday occurrences that are the most precious. The ordinary routine is where life happens. Here are a few stories from last week.

Jack sleeping in the car on the way home from daycare. This is  a pretty common view in my rearview mirror...and I couldn't love it more. If you look closely in the picture above, you can see that Jack has his paci. Within the last two weeks, he has really gotten good at putting his paci in his mouth. The first time I watched him do it, I was absolutely mesmerized. He turned the nippled over in his hands until it was touching his thumb, then he brought his hand, thumb leading, to his mouth and gummed around until he had it in his mouth. It seriously almost made me cry, I was so excited for him. He is figuring things out for himself. The first of many challenges (age appropriate, but a challenge nonetheless) that he will overcome.

I got tickled at Justin a few days ago because he sent Jack to daycare in the worst most creative outfit I've ever seen. It involved plaid pants and a striped shirt, neither shared a coordinating color. After work that day, I was taking Jack to an art show fundraiser for the special needs school in Charleston. A lot of my friends would be there to meet Jack for the first time. So Sunny, a friend and partner in crime, came up with a great disclaimer. It was just a photo op, he didn't actually wear it. Doesn't he look so pitiful? He was actually exhausted after school that day.

"Hey, wait a minute. What does this say?"

We have a pond in our neighborhood. There lives several families of ducks and about 100 turtles. On Friday, Jack and I were bored in the house and decided to take some old crackers and feed the ducks. He really enjoyed it. We both did. In fact, I was so excited, I didn't get any pictures of Jack with the ducks. Duh. Next time though.

He is great at floor time. Below he was talking up a storm. We love our Friday Fundays. They're the best and I absolutely treasure them.

Playing away...

I can't resist his grin and his funny faces.

I post lots of pictures to instagram. What a doll baby!

He's sitting up so well and can even look over his shoulder but he'll sometimes get wobbly if he does it too long. He has to concentrate on keeping that noggin balanced ;) That day he was watching to see what Ina Garten was cooking.

A brief interruption to bring you a "People of Walmart" photo. James Island's finest.

Back to Jack. Sometimes I wonder if I'm writing enough detail on this blog. Sometimes I think I'm writing too much. Years from now, I wonder if I'll keep it up or even read it. Maybe I'll be embarassed by all my new-mom anxiety. Hindsight is always 20/20 so I'm sure I'll wonder why I spent so much time stressing out over little things. Speaking of, Jack has his first diaper rash. It's awful. I'm trying everything in the book but his hiney is chapped and raw and he is miserable. It's day two and there's no end in sight. I may have to take off work to stay home and give him diaper breaks and soaks during the day...seriously, I may just do that.

All I know, is that I am the absolutely happiest I've ever been and I think that every baby deserves to be as loved and obsessed over as I love an obsess over Jack. Just the other day I was telling Justin how I could just have a million kids b/c I love Jack so much. He said, "I could too, but I couldn't deal with you and you having a million kids." Say what?!? I'm the picture of motherly serenity!! There was a "Don't take this the wrong way" somewhere in there. He wasn't in too much trouble for that comment. And, sadly, I totally got what he meant.

Finally, I went to a baby shower for a coworker this weekend and Jack stayed home with Dad. I got this picture while I was at the shower. They were having a grand time together. I love that Justin and Jack are such pals. I hope they are buds forever!

Holden Beach and a new decade

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND 2013

Holden Beach, NC

Time to catch this blog up a bit. Last weekend was Memorial Day weekend. It was so special for many reasons. First, Jack turned six months old! He is such a big boy. Two days before (on Justin's birthday to be exact), Jack said, "dada" for the first time. Justin was quite pleased...even if Jack had no idea what he was saying.

It was Jack's first trip to the beach. We went to Holden Beach with Justin's family, a vacation we look forward to every year! Unfortunately, we could only go from Thursday to Saturday but it was three days of lots of fun! We ate at a few of our favorite places including Provisions (best shrimp burgers ever) and The Giggling Mackerel. It was such a comforting and relaxing few days. We didn't want it to end. Jack did very well with the car ride that ended up being almost 5 hours due to traffic from biker week in Myrtle Beach.

Jack loved the beach! The first night we went to the ocean was for pictures. Thursday night, Sherry arranged to have a professional photographer come to the beach and take our pictures on the shore. We got several in the water, near the dunes, etc. She had great props too. Can't wait to see how they turned out! Hopefully we'll have them in a few weeks. Jack giggled as I dipped his toes in the sand. Here is a picture...

Sherry had the great idea of bringing an inflatable baby pool to the ocean. We filled it up with water and let it get warm in the sun (the water temperature was just a little chilly). Then Jack played and played. Julianne eventually warmed up to it and had a blast too. Jack kept pulling at Julianne and grabbing her cute bathing suit. He just loved her. It was a grand time!

Us, playing around in the beach house. Jack loves the phone. Towards the end of the car ride, I was desperate and resorted to letting him watch bugs bunny cartoons on YouTube. He was a peach considering how long he was trapped in the car so I figured he had earned it. I know...bad mommy!

Julianne, with those gorgeous blue eyes! She's a doll baby! Big brother, Luke, is in the background. Boy, has he gotten big! Reed too! They aren't little boys anymore. I feel so old :)

 

Jack's first sparkler! He was mesmerized. Sherry always has so many fun things for all the kids, all ages! Luke and Reed really enjoyed them. Of course the grown ups did too!

A trip to Holden wouldn't be complete without lots of time on the porch. Granna and Papa had the best seats in the house! Such fun, having both babies together! It was a PERFECT first beach trip for Jack. I honestly look forward to Holden every year and only wish it could last longer!

After Holden, we drove cross-state to Aiken to pick up the dogs and visit with family. We went to see Star Trek and ate at Carolina Ale House for Justin's birthday celebration. Jack loved having five days off from day care and was spoiled rotten!

Last, but definitely not least, Justin turned 30!! Big milestone! Welcome to my decade ;) Hard to believe I fell in love with that boy when he was only 19. It's been an amazing 10 years and my, how the time has flown! I'm going to blink and another 10 years will have passed. I am one lucky girl to have him. He is a wonderful husband, a caring father, and an extraordinary person.

Justin, I love you with every ounce of my heart. You are the man of my dreams. I am so proud of the man you've become. You are an amazing daddy and I wouldn't want to live this life without you.

Above are two videos of us playing on the beach. Hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!