What I did over summer vacation!

In case anyone asks, here's what you can tell them you did over the summer when you were only a couple of months old!!! First, you went to your first Williamson County Fair. Your view was really only that of my chest, but hey, you were there! (And I must say, I'm getting SO much usage out of this Baby Bjorn! Ryan didn't like it all, but you would stay in it all day if I let you! You're actually in it right now as I type this!). You actually went twice and you slept every time. Next year, you'll be walking around, and it'll be a whole different experience (for us all!!).

And yes, I do eat with you in the Baby Bjorn! Eating a funnel cake with you strapped to my chest took a lot of skill! I only had to brush powdered sugar off your head once or twice!! :)

Then you took your first (of many to come) visits to Arkansas. Granddaddy and KK drove us to Memphis where we met Emme and Papa and did the trade off, and then we rode with them to Little Rock. It's gonna be a LONG time before Mommy's brave enough to travel by herself with you AND Ryan! You did pretty well. We had to stop to feed you a couple of times, but otherwise you behaved yourself nicely! Good job! You got to meet your family that you hadn't met before and they all loved you. While we were there, you gave your first smile, and just as I thought, it was to Ryan!! But I was not nearly as hurt as I thought I would be. I was so happy to see your smile, I don't care you were smiling at! But most importantly, I'm just so happy to see that our brother makes you smile!!! Now I'm just waiting to hear your laugh!

On our way back from Arkansas, you went to your first birthday party! Abigail turned 3 and had her birthday party in Munford. So we made a detour on our way back. And once again, you spent the entire time in the Baby Bjorn! Emme made you and Ryan matching shirts - be prepared, there will be many more of that to come!

We're working on one of your milestones now - moving you from Mommy & Daddy's room into your crib. We have our good days and our bad days! Last night was not one of our better nights! Sometimes I can put you down, and you'll just go to sleep on your own, but last night was not one of those nights. Every time I put you down you cried. So you and I spent most of the night in the rocking chair together! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it was a fluke!

I'll keep you updated you on how things are going! Until then, Kiss Kiss from Mommy!

Welcome to the world!

Welcome to the world sweet Baby Jake! I know I'm a little late getting this started, but you'll come to find that that's the case most of the time. So you're forewarned!

I guess I'll start with your amazing entrance into the world. Just a little background - you were due July 8 and Mommy was scheduled for a c-section on July 1. On June 24 at 4:30am, I woke up with some really strong pain which I thought was gas! I went to the bathroom (TMI?), but that didn't help. The pains kept coming about 3 minutes apart. So I woke your dad up and told him I thought you were coming. We started to get everything ready. Your dad called Uncle Jay to come over and watch Ryan. Well, the contractions were so bad and so close together that there was no way I was going to be able to make it from Franklin to Nashville, so your dad called 911 for an ambulance. So the ambulance and fire truck came (yes, sirens and all!). They got me on a stretcher and put me in the ambulance. Your dad was going to follow behind us in the car. Well, just as we were about to drive off, I had a strong contraction and felt like I needed to push, so I did! And something came out! I yelled to the EMT guys that something had come out. So one of them looked and said, "We have a head!" So they got your dad and he got there just in time for me to push again and you came out! Yes, right there in the ambulance in front of our house!! They gave your dad a scalpel and he cut the cord. They wrapped you up and we headed to the hospital in the ambulance! It was a crazy morning! But thankfully we were all OK and nothing was wrong. When we got to the hospital, the doctors and nurses were so amazed by what happened! You were like a little celebrity that day!

But it's been smooth sailing ever since then (knock on wood!). You're a good sleeper and a good eater. And you've got quite a fan in your big brother. He adores you! He loves to kiss on you and give you your paci every time you cry! I have a feeling your first smile is going to be at him and not me (and I'll only be slightly crushed if that happens!!).

You took your first trip a week or so ago to the Morris family reunion. You did great! Everyone loved seeing you and they were all so impressed with your arrival into the world! You've definitely made a name for yourself already!

Right now, there's not much to report on your achievements, but I'll definitely report them as they come. I can't wait to watch you grow! It's going to be so much fun!!!

Until next time, Kiss Kiss from Mommy! I love you!!!!