Monday, June 30, 2008

Happy 1st Anniversary

Jared,
Happy 1st Anniversary! I could have never anticipated the year we would have when we stood at the altar a year ago--but you have given me the best year of my life. It's been a sometimes rough road but we made it through and more than just intact--we are bigger (by 12 lbs 11 ozs!)fuller, and more complete than I ever imagined we could be. Thank you for being so steady and loving, for being my caregiver when I needed you, for never leaving my side, and for reminding me to stay "in the wheelbarrow" when things were uncertain. You show me the love you have for your family every day in every way--the way you giggle and coo at our baby, the way you always make me feel loved and wanted and appreciated, the way you seem to effortlessly balance school, work, and family. My faith in God hasn't waivered once--I just have to look at you to be reminded of how much He loves me. I love you more and more every day and I can't wait for the years to come. Here are a few of my favorite images from this year. I love you.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Bumbo Baby

Jack's been getting bored always being on his back and loves being propped in a sitting position between our legs. So, we decided it was time to try him out in the Bumbo seat. He loves it! He does pretty well sitting up in it; still a little wobbly and he gets tired pretty fast, but he loves being able to reach for his toys and play with them.

My college roommate was in town for a visit last night--we got to spend the evening catching up and reminiscing about our college days (for the record, my husband thinks we were big dorks--I guess it's good that he met me in my "cooler days" post-college?!?!). She brought Jack the toy he's playing with in the picture. It's the first toy he can actually get to play music and light up on his own--oh, and it doesn't have an "off" button. Thanks, B., for bringing the "counting" song into our lives. I'm sure we will be humming it at work for months to come. :-)

We received these Trumpette socks as a baby gift and I didn't think much of them. Jared put them on Jack a couple of weeks ago and I LOVE them. He gets compliments on them whenever we are out and about.
I couldn't help myself, I added to the repertoire and got him this cowboy boot version:

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

It's a Tough Life...

...being a baby... :-)


It's been a big week! Jack turned 4 months old on the 22nd! We had his 4-month appointment today and he is now a whopping 12 lbs 11 ozs and has made it to the 10th percentile for weight (up from the 4th percentile at his last well-baby visit and not even making it on the charts at birth!). Looks like he might catch up within the first year!

Jack started daycare this week, as well. We found a wonderful woman just a few doors down the hill from us--she has been watching kids for 20 years this year at the same location and Jared went to school with one of her sons. It's very clear how much the kids there love her...so we are grateful we've found such a great arrangement. We're adjusting to early mornings and the added drop-off and pick-up part of our day...

Life has been keeping us on our toes lately. The FDIC folks are still in "visiting" me at work and as soon as this contingency leaves (they will have been here for 5 weeks), the next group arrives for another go at me. We'll see if I'm still standing after it's all over. Jared's summer term at school has begun--he's excited to be taking a digital photography class, so stay tuned for some new pictures! Thanks Dad, for loaning him the camera to make it all possible!

Saturday, June 21, 2008

This morning, I was checking out my sister's blog, in which she basically paid homage to the Indigo Girls. My sister has always been the queen of music in my family and generously shared her love of music through custom-made mixed tapes and mixed CDs. She somehow managed to always make a mixed tape that was fitting to my place in life (no easy feat given that she is quite a bit older than me and lived thousands of miles away during my middle and high school years). These mixed tapes were always aptly named, as well (I had "Melancholia" during my angsty teen years)...and have been the soundtrack for my life through various stages. My baby son even has a mixed CD of lullabies she made for him. Many of my favorite artists I have discovered through the magic of her playlists. So, it was with some humor that I read her most recent post and many of her quoted lyrics brought me back to one of my teenage summers...

My sister was embarking on one of her worldly travels that summer and entrusted me with her vast collection of CDs. This was very generous but probably not too smart if she was intending to return to her complete collection. During that summer, I fell in love with the Indigo Girls (specifically, the Rites of Passage album), Cowboy Junkies, Emmy Lou Harris, and a few others...and I, being of little money, "kept" (to put it nicely) the Rites of Passage CD. I even put my initials on the CD so as to foil anyone who might question its ownership (I doubt I fooled anyone). I still have it to this day. And, I still listen to it.

So, thanks sister...you may have lost a CD in the process but you've introduced me to some of my favorite music, music that has become part of my history. For the record, if you want your CD back, I'll give it to you. :-)

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Million Dollar Baby...

...or a quarter of a million dollars, at least. We got the bill for Jack's NICU stay today and I'm feeling grateful for insurance. He's worth every penny...and a lot more.





Sunday, June 15, 2008

Happy 1st Father's Day!


My husband celebrated his first Father's Day today, right on the heels of his birthday yesterday (happy birthday!). I don't think there was any way to make it special enough--my husband has earned the right to be called "Daddy." Jared has been my rock through this past year--steady, holding it all together and keeping me from falling apart when things were tough. His love for me and for our baby is unrivaled...we've traveled a lot of road during our first year of marriage and he never once wavered on the course. He always puts me and Jack first--he never complained about sleeping on the uncomfortable, fold-out chairs in the hospital during my stay, or going to work in rumpled clothing (if you know my husband and his fetish for ironing, you would understand what a sacrifice this is), he never shied away even during the yuckiest parts of my hospital stay before (and after) Jack was born, he is the one up every 3 hours during the night to feed Jack...quite simply, he is the best husband and father I could have ever hoped for. Jared, I hope you had a wonderful first father's day and I am so proud to have you as my husband and proud every time I say "our baby".


I am lucky enough to not only have a husband who is a wonderful father but to have been raised by a wonderful father. I've always looked up to my father, who is kind, intelligent, thoughtful, generous and who loves his family so very much. It is from my father (and mother!) that I learned the value of family and it is through his love for my mother that I am learning to be a good wife. Thanks, Dad for all of your sacrifices for us, for keeping me afloat during those times I could have easily sunk, and for always believing in my best and never giving up on me.

Monday, June 2, 2008

Back to Work...

Well, my maternity leave officially ended last night...and my return was celebrated by a visit from our friends at the FDIC (I am a compliance officer for a local bank). Last time they visited, I was getting married. Clearly, I have good timing when it comes to Major Life Events. So, Jack will spend the next two weeks with his daddy and his grandmothers for another two weeks before heading off to the wide world of day care. His father has already outdone my efforts to be June Cleaver...when I came home tonight, the linens had been stripped and changed, a healthy dinner was cooking, and Jack was happily eating his bottle in a cute, matched outfit. Generally speaking, when Jared would come home during my leave, he found me and Jack hanging out in the glider, watching reruns of Reba (don't ask...!?!?!), both of us in clothes smelling vaguely (some days less vaguely than others) like baby spit-up. I might feel somewhat inadequate if I weren't so touched that I have a husband so awesome that he can manage the house, the baby, going to school part time and putting up with me. I'm going to miss those wasteful afternoons...I hope I enjoyed them enough.

My four year-old niece is scheduled for a pretty major surgery tomorrow. My heart hurts for my sister as she has already had to watch her daughter struggle through two failed, less-invasive but still challenging attempts to fix the issue. We're praying the surgery goes well and my niece has as easy a recovery as possible.

Sunday, June 1, 2008

June Already?!?!?

Amazing where a year goes...and so fast! Last year at this time, we were a mere month away from our wedding and now we are watching our little baby get bigger every day! We've had a lot of things to celebrate this past year--our wedding, Jared's new job, a new baby...

In other news, on Friday we took a trip down to Coronado to see my childhood friend Brigid and her two kids, James (2) and Alexis (6 mos). Brigid and I have long hoped a marriage between someone in our families would make us "real" family...so I'm now pinning my hopes on Jack and Alexis...their first date did seem to go well. :-)

On Saturday, Jared and I got a glimpse of what life might have been like with twins...we watched our 6 month-old Goddaughter, Katy, while her parents and older sister went to Disneyland. We survived and had a lot of fun in between--but I think we'll be holding off on any new additions to this family any time soon.

Recent developments...Jack has discovered himself in the mirror--he may not know it's himself but he's quite smitten with the "baby in the mirror"--as am I.