5 months

jack is now 5 months... and still up to his schinanigans. i can't tell you how much we love and want to squish him. we are always laughing and are constantly soaking up all he does. he is our joy!
-he smiles all the time
-squeeks and squawks all the time
-loves to eat anything and everything we have
-doesn't like to sit still
-grabs at everything
-is pretty good at drinking out of a cup
-loves chips, whipping cream, fruit, potatoes, icecream, etc
-rollin, rollin, rollin
-fast hands

 -ash

drinking...crying...

jack is at the stage where he reaches for anything and everything. he is fascinated with what paul and i eat and drink and he loves to have tastes, which we love to give him. he especially loves to drink and chew on the lip of the cup. yes...he does get some in his mouth, yes...most runs down his chest...yes...if we take the cup away or reposition it, he gets mad/cries. this video shows it all...
-ash

the gentle lull of m&m's

i still get nervous taking jack in a car when there are other people in the car other than me and paul. i took jack swimming and on the way home hitched a ride with dad & mom. he has different levels he goes through before he completely looses it. i try to listen to each one and act accordingly. he started his normal talking, and then started talking with a little more gusto. i think they were reading the faces i was making because mom said they didn't mind him crying. he loves to play with things that make noise, so i grabbed the m&m package i had in the diaper bag (i was saving them for later). he was playing and before i knew it, he was quiet. i looked down and he was asleep with the corner of the wrapper in his mouth. i just giggled. mom heard the wrapper while he was playing with it and when he fell asleep, she asked for one. i tried to take it out of his hands, but he just gripped it more (bottom photo). i finally was able to get the package and share the m&m's while we talked about jack. i cannot get enough of him...

-ash

berries

we did it...we finally did it! we planted our berries...for a few years, paul and i have talked about growing our own berries. i have wanted to get tennessee quality berries badly, but i know with our rocks/little bit of dirt and our dry air, it isn't a possibility (makes me sad). paul bought me a bunch of barrels last year in preparation and this spring, we got the rocks and filled them with soil. paul and jack watched while i planted our berries. we planted 4 raspberries, 2 blackberries, 3 strawberries and 2 blueberries. i can't wait for the desserts, drinks and berries i get to make/eat. it feels so good to be a little more self reliant. 

-ash

 

car washing party

it has been so hot the past few days, that we thought it would be fun to have a car washing party...it was a great idea...the kids could play in the water, and we would have an excuse to get cool. conrad and carter took turns with the water, while little phoebe made sure jack was taken care of. she couldn't just check on him while standing next to him, she had to get onto his bouncer, and then talk to him. it was the cutest thing. no wonder his eyes widen so much when she comes near him! i can't believe we are growing up and having our own kids. what the heck and when did that happen?
it was a great couple of hours to spend with each other, plus we got our cars clean!
-ash

summerfest

katie invited us to go to orem summerfest with her and the kids. we weren't sure if we were going to go because it was so windy and cold. i am not a parade lover. i can't remember the last time i went to a parade, but i am so excited to see a parade through the eyes of my kiddos. highlights...

-darn windy and really cold!

-parked at a church parking lot that ended up being really far away

-conrad wanting to hold his oreo shake even though his little fingers were cold

-seeing jack look at everything

-unprepared with no blankets...thanks to katie for hers!

-paul asking over and over again..."where is the candy?" "didn't they used to throw candy?' "where is the candy?"

-when they did throw candy, paul was out there so fast

-when the pepsi truck came by, conrad said "look lala, it's the juice man"

-hardly any floats

-a lot, a lot of families

-by the time we left, it was even colder and conrad was wearing most of his shake

-watched the fireworks from our house whilst we drank hot chocolate

-ash

i love the look on phoebe's face...

i have a jack

 tonight was our humanitarian night with relief society. we had so many stations and charities that were needing our help (soft toys, pillow cases, quilts, sanitation bags, birthday bags, and cards). i was helping with the card section and was able to meet a new mom in our ward. i was asking about her family and she has a 5 year old and a 3 year old jack. all the sudden it hit me...for the first time, i was able to say "i have a jack!" after i said that, i just giggled. i have always wondered what it would feel like to say that. i was quiet for a few minutes as i remembered how lucky i am to have my baby boy, to have my jack.
i came across these pictures i took a few weeks ago. i start laughing when i look at these...we have the best time in the mornings. we literally eat each other up and get nothing done. i love it...more than i ever thought i would!
-ash