Jack takes a step

Well, today Jack took his first step. Not steps..step. :) I wanted to blog about it so I didn't forget! We spent the entire 4 day weekend with the Ewell family at my parents cabin. My sister Ashlee's family was able to make it and Jack LOVES spending time with his cousin Wesley. Wesley gets Jacks gears a-going and REALLY makes him want to "do stuff". Wesley is a very busy boy, playing with cars, running, crawling under the table (crawling on top of the table), and just generally doing things that Jack just can't do yet, but things that look super fun! So ALL weekend all Jack wanted to do was stand up next to the coffee table near eye level with Wesley and watch him do all these fun things. He also started walking while holding onto my pointer fingers. Well, we went out to lunch at The Old Spaghetti factory today and Jack really just took off on walking with a little help from my two fingers. He got really tired though and took a nap to rest his chubby legs and then we went to my moms house to say goodbye to Ash and Wes before they flew back home. Jack was once again refusing to sit and we started having him walk back and fourth between my mom and I. My mom then introduced him to the push walker she has, but he was a little nervous. Instead of pushing it along Jack let go with BOTH hands, pivoted and took a step towards my mom! Sorry- I can't give you the best picture with words, but it was AWESOME!! This is my boy who has NEVER taken any interest in crawling and is all of a sudden taking steps and standing on his own! Gosh, Jack you are getting so big :(

1st Haircut

With the help from Chris and various family members we've trimmed Jack's hair quite a few times at home. It was looking particularly shabby the last couple of weeks so I decided to take matters into my own hands and attempt and actual haircut with Chris' beard trimmer...YA, not a good idea. I ended up making Jack look like Moe from the Three Stooges (not a good look for anyone) not even the CUTEST of human beings.

So we decided to take Jack to a cute place I heard of through the grapevine, "Cookie Cutters." They have these cute little cars that the kids get to sit in and Jack was just THRILLED! I was POSITIVE he would just cry and moan through the entire sitting, but he never stops surprising me with his sweetness. Jack was SO happy to sit in his "new ride." He babbled, squealed, laughed, and charmed his way into more helpless hearts today :).

We loved watching him honk the cars horn and turn the wheel. It's funny how boys JUST KNOW what you are suppose to do with a car (big or small). We already want to get him this exact car for his 1st Birthday, we are suckers.

Hiding my mishap :)

Crazy hair-cutie boy.

Gosh, I love this boy!

BEFORE.Jack laughing, so-happy!

Smiles for daddy :)

Singing the "Little Green Frog" song, so she could trim his neck

"This is boring mom.."

Stud-muffin :)

"Can we be done yet?"

AFTER!

Look at that cute new hair-do!

All he cared about was the sucker, haha!

Droool.

Happy little boy :)

Jack looks so grown up with his "big boy" haircut. He is just so handsome. I probably won't ever go there again though due to the ($15 dollar) price, but it was perfect for his FIRST haircut. He even got a lollipop and balloon! What a happy day!

Life's Messy

8, 9, 10

Jack is 10 months old today and I realized I forgot to post his 8 & 9 months stats! The holidays were crazy and I STILL have to blog about those as well. Well, Here is a little catch-up on the STAR of mommies blog!

8 Months:

At 8 months, Jack was wearing size 12/18 Months! I could talk about his scruptious thighs ALL day! Jack celebrated his first Christmas at 8 months old and was COMPLETELY spoiled! (I ended up saving two of his presents for his birthday because all the toys are a little overwhelming.) I was really proud of myself for sticking to our budget and only spending $100 total on Jack. I shopped the sales and I was SO happy with the turnout :) PLUS with us giving him two of the presents to him for his birthday we spent even less! Plus, Jack's "new" uncle Nathan came home from his mission and they are already becoming best of friends :) So happy he is home! Anyways, Jack was REALLY getting into solid foods at 8 months and was eating dinner with us EVERY night! I like to buy the organic little food pouches because he likes the taste of REAL food. Thankfully Jack isn't really a picky eater so he was always happy with the meal we picked. Jack also had an adventure over New Years weekend! My dad, my sister Heather, Jack and I drove ALL the way to Eastern california to see my deathly ill Grandpa Ewell. Jack was SUCH a trooper on the trip! I can't believe how well behaved and content he was in the car for 12 hours one way! So happy my Grandma Ewell was able to meet Jack. He always told me he would live to see my two first born children. I hope that is the case...

On tracks with my boy! Going to walk around temple square

Christmas opening presents :)

Jack about to meet Nathan!

Uncle Nathan and Jack are best buds now :)

Best Buds!

Jack getting attacked by papa in our hotel room

Love this sweet picture of Jack and Grandpa Ewell holding hands

So tender :(

Three generations :)

9 Months:

Sigh...this was such a hard month for me. Jack had officially been out of my belly longer than he had been in it. PLUS, I was a little' disappointed the weight I had gained during my pregnancy wasn't GONE by this point. It's okay though, life goes on haha. At Jack's 9 month appt. He weighed 22.9 pounds in the 85th percentile, and was 22.6 inches long in the 24th percentile, the doctor said he was DUE for a growth spurt within that month and he was definitely correct! Jack is near 27-28 inches long! WOW! He grows fast! I felt he slept the entire month of January and the proof is in the pudding! ^ I have to say how proud I am at his leaps and bounds in growth. My Dr. makes me feel like such a good mom when he shows me his growth chart, he has taken a 180 from birth. Those late nights when we first brought him home and feeding him EVERY 2 hours whether he was awake or not gave him that jump start he needed. It's all worth it for my son. Jack is THE SWEETEST, most milder mannered, content, happy little boy I know. January was a fairly busy month as well. Chris started school at the U, and I started watching twin girls (OMG, pleasepleasepleaseplease can I have only boys??). Jack started getting up on his hands and knees and rocking back and fourth, so I THOUGHT he would start to crawl, but I think he has skipped that step and is going to go straight to walking. He is already trying to pull him self up on stuff and insists on standing as much as possible.

Biting me as I brush his 4 teeth.

Jack will kill me one day for posting this picture!..

What a sweetie :P

10 Months:

Double digits?! :( Sooo sad about this. Every stage of Jack development has been more and more exciting and I've loved his new quirks and he is just so smart. Jack is SUCH a joy to be around. I can't express how much I love that boy! We had a hiccup in the last few weeks of January...Jack caught RSV and became very ill, as most babies due around 6 month or less in age. Even though he was past the "risky" stage, Jack's lungs can still not withstand sickness to their full capacity because of being born premature. He was hospitalized for 2 days to have his lungs suctioned out and be on oxygen. He was on oxygen for a full week after we brought him home and made a FULL recovery. He's not my little weezy anymore and I'm positive it's because all of your prayers and thoughts sent my way. Thank you again. Jack also now has nearly 6 teeth! Crazy huh! Jack has become QUITE the goofball this month and his favorite place to visit is definitely the U of U hospital to see his auntie Heather :) He likes all the FOOD she gives him, haha donuts, mashed potatoes, rolls... She definitely spoils him, which I LOVE. I love seeing my family members loving my little Jack as much as I do, and I am happy to share him! I also never feel like I need "a break" from him. Chris and I have been on a total of 2 dates since Jack was born (3 this Saturday!!) because I genuinly miss him when we are apart. Anyways, basically you are getting my point of how completely IN LOVE we are with our son which haha we SHOULD be. Here is a list of jack's favorite things :)

• Bathtime-Jack could LIVE in the bathtub. He now likes to lay on his tummy and blow bubbles
• Mealtime-Ya, my boy loves food. He know when you are eating and is positive that he should be too.
• Friends- Jack loves his friends in my daycare. His favorite is Kodee (she's 3) she is so sweet to him and brings him toys and gives him kisses. I think he is liking having an older woman for a girlfriend, haha.
• Going on walks-Lets face it, we ALL need to get out of the house, kids are no exception.
• Grandparents- from MY grandparents, to chris parents, my parents. Jack KNOWS his grandma's and papa's.
• Cousins- Jack doesn't get to see his cousin Wesley often but when he does, they are pals. Wes doesn't like to share his mommy or papa so it's funny to see them interact. Jack LOVES his cousin Kyle. Kyle is SO sweet to him. Wish you could see them together. I'm glad Jack has a cousin to watch his back. Recently at a family party Lucas and Jack started interacting more. I think once the age gap is a little closer ( like when the are 2 and 3 they will be BEST buds.
• Mommy- I know Jack loves me he reaches intently for me CONSTANTLY if he wasn't so heavy (now nearly 24 pounds) I would have him on my hip all day, but I don't wanna break my back..Jack also ONLY gives me hugs. I try to get him to do it with other people, but I guess it's our special thing, which I am totally ok with :) I am teaching Jack about kisses too, right now they are just very slobbery, but he is such a lover. I also taught Jack how to wave. It is SO cute to see him way to strangers and on Skype to his Kenner grandparents. Yesterday at the mall he was waving at EVERYONE who walked by, so cute!
• Daddy- Well obviously Jack LOVES his daddy because Chris is the best dad in the world and knows how to juggle being a good father with everything else he takes on. Jack's first (and only) word is Dadda. He SCREAMS it randomly sometimes like he is saying, "Where the freak is my dad!?" We will call him during class and Jack will just babble on about his day adding dadda, dad, into the mix. It's so cute to see Jack light up when Chris gets home. What a cute bond they have.

Jack at Primary Childrens

Playing with daddy, oxygen and all.

What a FIERCE smile!

I also had to share these photos. Jack had been eyeing these cupcakes I made for the daycare kids, and I just HAD to give him one :) look at his facial expressions what a cutie!

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Breakthrough!

Okay personal prayer.

I have been working diligently on expanding my view and working towards experiencing the power of personal prayer. My prayers have always been answered, I will start with that. Weather it’s timely or not (in my opinion) I am always blessed constantly with the answers to my hearts desires and needs. Through faith I have found that patience is the key’ to this for me. I am NOT patient AT ALL so, this has been extra hard for me to practice’. Those answers have also always happened indirectly, and have basically been a series of events that have led to the grateful answer to a prayer. I am not saying that I hold anything against the way the Lord works, for he is perfect and I believe everything happens in his timing and for reasons we will not always understand. BUT, I have always wanted, hoped for, and prayed for matter a factly a distinct premonition from our heavenly father. I’ve always wanted that personal piece of a miracle, that uncanny, unquestionable, DIRECT line to heaven. Greedy I know…I can’t help my desires. They are true; I know miracles are constant in my life though. Jack is a living miracle on his own. I see heaven in him everyday.

Well, I had a predicament come up just recently. I was handed an opportunity to start nursing school THIS May! Wow, I mean wow...this is MY DREAM! I worked for this, I deserve this! Well, I had my interview today. It went AMAZING! I was just drooling over the school, the curriculum, and the fact that I would be working in Labor and Deliver with LIVE women having LIVE babies. I was basically a kid in a candy shop by the end of the tour and interview. Plus, I also would be bettering my family’s situation, Chris could quit his job in 18 months and I could support the family so HE could focus on school! So many scenarios and ideas where already cementing themselves into my brain. That is until I LEFT the college…and a distinct knot started to form in my stomach. The doubt and worry started to settle in everywhere and I started to have second thoughts about leaving S.L.C.C before completion. How could every piece seem to fit perfectly into my future and make me sick? That is when I prayed. I prayed to my heavenly father to help me make sense of this, I prayed out loud the entire drive home. I told him basically this decision couldn’t come over time. I needed to know now, and I would do WHATEVER he told me to do. Kinda direct right? I know…Well the bad feelings started to melt away so I headed to visit my sissy at the U of U hospital. I had to restrain myself from ambushing every nurse with questions of advice, for some reason I didn’t feel right about talking to these perfect strangers, and that is very not like me. Well, during my visit I had to take a stroll to the break room to heat up Jack’s dinner. I met a nice janitor there who was cleaning and going about his work. He asked me “How’s your day going?” a perfectly simple question to ask a stranger, but I felt the need to spill every event of my day with him. AND I DID! My worries about this nursing school, me being tired and worn out, etc. He was just so nice, and so calm and thoughtful, he said things like, “You just can’t ever stop.” And “You have to just keep going.” Things I feel the Lord would tell me himself. Then we got into the discussion of nursing schools, He then confided in ME about the school I had chosen and his aprehensions on ones he had considered. Wait, this most likely 50 year old man and I are both working towards our RN, what a coincidence! He also shocked me when he said that he had been attending S.L.C.C and was just tired of being on the waiting list. I’m thinking in my head, “Come on those are my thoughts exactly!” The last thing I remember though was him saying. “I guess I will just continue to wait and finish at S.L.C.C because it’s the right thing to do.” It wasn’t until later when I was talking to my mom and relaying this strange scenario to her that it HIT ME! I was given my answer, CLEAR AS DAY! I basically had a conversation with God through this sweet old man. I felt that power of a prayer answered rush over me and the emotion was just marvelous. He was of such great comfort to me and he will never know how truly grateful I am that he was a tool in the efforts to answer my prayers. I am so grateful to have had this expieriece and to feel 100% about turning down this opportunity. Hard decisions are best made with the Lords help. I’m just marveling that I get to write this in MY journal and share it with all of you J Pretty cool huh?