0 Easter

Just a short post to share some photos of our wonderful Easter. 

We had a lovely, laid back weekend.  Since having Jackson, Jess and I have really tried to stay focused on making the holidays and traditions all about our little family instead of stretching ourselves so thin running around all day. 

This year Easter was very different than last.  I spent all day this year thinking about last year on Easter and how much our lives have changed.  Last year Jess and I were toting around a precious five day old baby.  He was so tiny and sweet.  This year was Jack's second Easter in his first year of life.

Last Year at Easter

Easter morning we got up slow like we usually do and had breakfast as a family.  We showed Jackson his Easter basket which was hidden behind a curtain in the living room.  His little face just lit up when he saw it and then glanced back at us as if to say "Is that mine?" 

We played bubbles right in the middle of the living room.  It's funny the things first time parents don't really think about.  We played with those bubbles and slicked up our floor very nicely for our little guy and of course he slipped and fell and we felt terrible.  Next time I think we will leave the bubbles as an outdoor activity.

Jackson also loved all the little eggs in his basket, full of little goodies.  Now he thinks there are goodies in all eggs. 

Sweet little Easter books are my favorite!!

During nap time Daddy and Mommy worked in the yard and got ready to go to a family get together.  Jesse's Mom comes along with us to my parents for holidays now and it is so nice that some of our families can celebrate together, plus it cuts down on the running around. 

The evening was full of hanging out with family, playing games, talking, and laughing.  At one point all of the cousins started talking about the game "Draw Something" and before we knew there was a whole room of people playing the game with each other on their phones. 

This was the last holiday we will celebrate in Jackson's first year.  A little bittersweet.  Easter will always be a very special holiday to me.  It is my favorite holiday of the church year and an amazing reminder of the gift of life God gave his people.  It is also a reminder of the gift of life God gave to Jess and I last year.  When Jackson turns 20 years old he will celebrate his birthday on Easter.  He is our most precious gift!

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter!! 

0 Ringin' it in!!!

We got away this past weekend for a family Christmas/New Year's celebration in Omaha.  A quick trip that recharged our batteries and gave us a new appreciation for our go with the flow kiddo. 

The last time we traveled Jackson was just three months old.  Although he did wonderfully at that age it was a big pain traveling with a baby that young.  Between the amount of stuff you must lug with you and the countless stops you make for frequent feedings and diaper changes we were exhausted before we even arrived at our destination.  This trip was so much different!!  He was an amazing little traveler and as you can see in this picture I think he will be a future jet-setter.

This was his first stay in a hotel and I had the worst anxiety about a crying baby in a hotel.  I imagined screaming for hours at night about being in a strange place and waking up the people in the rooms around us at all hours of the night and morning.  He did amazing!!  Two nights in a row he went to bed without a fuss.  He is so easy going.  I love that he is so laid back and that he embraces each new place as an opportunity to explore. 

We made him a little pillow fort on the luxurious king bed and he was in heaven.  He played there while we got ready each morning.  He and Daddy played peak-a-boo, and basketball.  They are so cute and funny together. 

Our family rang in the New Year in a hotel lobby playing cards, laughing, and reminiscing.  I would not have wanted to start the year any other way.  The best part was for the first time since Jackson was itty bitty, he slept right next to me in a tiny little hotel crib, just like he did when we brought him home.  

And I just have to add this picture because he started doing the cutest little lip smacking this weekend.  It cracks me up every time and I am so glad I got a picture of him doing it...

Coming back at ya in the next couple of days with our family New Year's Resolutions or as I like to call them "Goals". 

1 Santa Baby

Nothing in this world is better than a cute, clean, jammied baby boy!! 

He just loves his baba which is a new word for him. 

I just love our nights of bath time, stories, and snuggles. 

And you may think it is strange but at night sometimes (ok every night) I sneak into his room and sit in the recliner and look at him while he sleeps.  Sometimes the days overwhelm me and those few minutes of sitting there puts the whole day, and frankly my whole life, in perspective and instantly calms me. 
Nothing too much going on around here and it is so nice to just be in the moment and enjoy being a Mommy. 

I love this time of year and I am enjoying it even more this year.  Don't get me wrong there is a lot to do during the holiday season but I have a blast getting ready for Christmas. 

Hands down favorite part of this year is making it special for Jackson. 

Santa hats and lights are a new favorite.

8 months is just around the corner!!  Have a great week!

0 Little Lambie

Our first Halloween was as exciting as a first Halloween can get.  He doesn't know much about candy, or costumes but he sure was interested in what all the fuss was about. 

Our Little Lambie

We didn't get many smiles out of this little guy.  He was inquisitive and serious about just about everything. 

In the days prior we let him explore his pumpkin...insides and all!!

He seemed to like the taste :)

Our first family Pumpkin

Holidays are so fun; especially his firsts!!

During the day I dressed him up in this cute little number.  I think he enjoyed this outfit a little better than the lambie costume. 

Happy Halloween!!  The countdown to Christmas starts in our house this week...

1 Tradition

With the holidays fast approaching I have been thinking so much about traditions and what kinds of things I want to do every year as a family.  I am tradition obsessed and Jess has to pull me back every once and a while or I would go way overboard.  One tradition I know we will re-visit is a trip to the pumpkin patch.

Jess and I have not been to a pumpkin patch since our grade school days and I couldn't help but be giddy with excitement like a school child yesterday.  The pumpkin patch did not disappoint and it will be a yearly outing for this family!! 

My beautiful "punkin"

He was loving all the bright colors, the smooth pumpkins, and the smell of apples.  He was not so much loving the feel of the hay.  He would always get an "icky" face when he was feeling the hay.  Too funny..

We could not have picked a better day to go to Louisburg.  I had to put sunscreen on Jackson in the middle of October.  It was perfect. 

Such a beautiful place to take photos!!  All these cute little families were propping their littles on pumpkins, or posing them on hay bales.  Of course, I couldn't resist!

We were sure to do it all!!  Wagon ride, corn maze, big slides, you name it, we did it!!



New Shoes



I always say that I never get to be on the other side of the camera with Jackson because I am always taking pictures.  I told Jess on the way to the patch that I really wanted a good picture of Jackson and I together.  Boy did he deliver!!  I LOVE these photos!



Jackson got to pick out his own little pumpkin to decorate this year.  Hopefully I have time to get that done before Halloween in just one short week. 

Now my mind has focused on Christmas...don't ask me why I just skipped right over Thanksgiving but I am so excited for Christmas that I can hardly stand it.  What kinds of traditions do you have for the holidays??  I am going to pick a couple simple ones for this year so throw me some ideas. 

Have a great week!!