First Christmas!

Well Christmas has come and gone! You've had quite the December! We started off by going to the Opryland Hotel to see the lights. You were a trooper just hanging out in your car seat the whole time. I can't say the same for your brother, but I'm sure one day your day will come as well! But right now, you're an angel!!

In the middle of December, we had a visit from your Great Uncle Rob, Great Aunt Pam, Cousin Matthew and his little girl Ella. She just loved you!!! And you were so patient with her while she grabbed your chubby cheeks and held on! They were so sweet to come by and bring you Christmas presents since we were going to be spending Christmas in Franklin and miss seeing them over Christmas.

We also took you for your first visit to see Santa! Santa and his reindeer were in Brentwood, so we went out there to see him and get a picture. Of course, you did fabulous! You weren't scared or anything - you just sat on his lap and hung out. I wonder how many years we'll be able to do that!?

The week before Christmas you caught some kind of nasty viral infection. You had a pretty high fever for a couple of days. Since it was a viral infection, there was really nothing we could do for it, and you couldn't go to daycare. So you hung with me at my office for a couple of mornings. Daddy was able to come get you in the afternoons, but in the mornings you'd just pretty much sleep in my office, so it actually worked out. Luckily you got it out of your system before Christmas, so we could enjoy the holiday!

Before Christmas, Ryan made some cookies for Santa and you watched us in your high chair. Well, after we had finished making cookies Ryan was eating some of the leftover M&Ms. I turned around for one second to clean something up and when I turned around Ryan was trying to shove one of the mini M&Ms in your mouth!! Luckily I caught it in time! You just kept licking your lips like, Mmm that was good! In time, sweet Jake, in time!!!

We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in Franklin at our house. KK & Granddaddy came up on Christmas Eve and we had dinner at our house with Uncle Jay, EP and Grant. It was crazy!!! There were so many presents!! Emme had made you and Ryan matching shirts so of course we had to put you in those for the special night! You got all kinds of cute baby toys and clothes (which you need so badly!!). Your brother loved playing with you and giving you hugs!! He's so sweet with you! Hopefully that won't change!!

Then on Dec. 26 we went to Little Rock. We got there just in time for Cookie Day! This is something that you don't really care much about now, but trust me, it will become one of your favorite days of the year!! Mommy's friends loved holding you and seeing how big you had gotten!! You got more presents from Emme and Papa, and then we went to Meemo and Beepo's so you could open presents there too! They loved holding you too! Everyone loves holding you!!

After a few days we came back to Franklin so we could spend New Year's Eve with the Clarks. Granddaddy and KK were kind enough to come back up here, so Mommy and Daddy could spend an adult night with the Clarks. But before they came to get you we had to get the annual group picture! This year was CRAZY with 7 kids!!! It took some wrangling but we managed to get a pretty decent picture of you all! We were pretty pleased with ourselves!

You're doing so many new things these days. You LOVE your exersaucer! You love it so much that Granddaddy and KK bought you another one for Christmas, so we could have one upstairs and downstairs! One day while I was wrapping presents I had put you in it, and when I looked back up at your a few minutes later you had fallen asleep in it!! I probably should have gotten the clue that you were tired, but you don't usually fuss in it so how was I to know!?!

You're starting to sit up on your own too!! You haven't totally gotten it down yet, but you can sit for a little while on your own, then you slowly fall to the side! But I'm always there to catch you (and I always will be!!).

And lastly, you're getting a TOOTH!! Finally! I'm glad to actually see the product of months of drooling! I knew it was coming soon with all of the bibs you're soaking! It's one of your bottom teeth, and I bet in a week we'll be able to see it a lot better and then I can get a good picture of it!

Well, that wraps up 2011 for us!! I can't believe you're already 6 months old!! Your 1st birthday will be here before we know it!!! But there will be lots more to tell before then! I love you sweet boy! Kiss Kiss from Mommy.