Santa - I love Santa!

Ok maybe this picture doesn't capture it but he did seem to enjoy the meeting. When asked Santa reported that he and jake had a long conversation about what he'd like for Christmas - he said he talked his ear off! Got to love a funny mall santa! Yet the little boy before Jake did have a "Sammy esk" experience So santa must not be that good! He he! We're headed home on friday so we hope to see some of you while we're there but till then we'll be blogless! Ho Ho HO!!!

If you have a minute check out this video, it was a couple of weeks ago when jake was just starting to try to crawl? Judge for your self but he's picking up his little booty and everything!! So proud!

Carrots?

This picture is a bit deceiving it seems that after just 5 bites of unprotested spoon fulls of carrots, my little guy decided they were disgusting!

On that 6th bite he closed one eye and quivered his head as i would after a sip of mint julep! (oh how i want to go to the derby again) They were his official first real food so i've got high hopes that the next one goes better. Today i decided to make it easier and just spike his cereal with a little carrots and again the first few bites were fine but then it was back to the one eyed head quiver! Too funny!

This is our happy guy in his Adored red outfit which he loved because it is a hooded, and footed, head to toe outfit so lots of ends to chew on. Oh how excited he is when he finds his toes and then gets to keep chewing on his outfit long after he's lost the actual toes!

The Coast

Jake at tom O'Brians in New Orleans. He just wanted to hold the Hurricane. To bad we didn't run in to Jocelyn they could have shared a shared a juice! On the beach in Biloxi. It was 65' but a bit windy.

How is it possible for our little guy to cry for hours at night and still wake up this happy! Its like he doesn't even remember! Lucky little shit! Jake's had a few rough nights where he wakes up and for about 15 min just crys and doesn't open his eyes. Chris sometimes will wake him up and as soon as his eyes open he's better. I just pace the house until its over. Maybe he's dreaming of Sammy's santa. During the day however he's the happyest camper, he loves his jumper of course but also any chance for someone to hold him or help him stand and he'll giggle like mad if you find one of his tickel spots!

Jump Jump

Just a quick note to share a few more cute pic's. of our little boy. First I'm afraid jake went through the cutest tounge sticking out phase and i didn't get enough pictures of it! Except this first one when we're tailgating at the Alabama game. Which by the way i think all football lovers need to go to a southern game. The fan support is amazing and the sound level so much fun.

Here is a quick one of him loving his jumper too.

I love Halloween

Halloween was so much fun this year! Jake was a champ at Heather's gathering and the cutest lion i've ever seen!

Jodie's wedding was so much fun as you can tell by our costumes! I love a good reason to dress up! Maybe Jake's first birthday will be a costume party!

Till then we're back in Mississippi until Christmas, it will be a long 7 weeks but when it's done we'll be home for good which is really exciting. It was great to see everybody when we were home.

Oh and big news Jake rolled over from back to front. Grandma janet says he did it on the first when we were at the wedding, and i saw him do it this morning while we were playing on the floor! So proud of our little guy!

Ok so i know that tomorrow jake turns 4 months but look how crazy this pic is! He's growing like a weed! I love the evolution of his hair! too funny! Thanks to my cousin jamie for the help with this pic~!

We're headed to michigan in minutes and will be home for a week, hope to see most of you!

I love to Stand!

Ok so it may sound a little corney but i didn't know babies could do this little trick until i read my what to expect the first year book, and may i quickly brag that i think it said he's not supposed to do it until 5 months - don't correct me if I'm wrong i think he's amazing! Just hold his little hands and he holds his head up and pushes all the way up to standing - he supposed to sit. Anyway we're very proud!But we we're not is good at lighting sorry!

I love this one its like he's one with the pumpkins! If you couldn't tell i usually blog when jake is awake and he's finally napping so let me catch you up on what he's up to. He loves to chew on his hands mainly his middle two fingers. Chris is always scared that he's going to gag himself, i always just wipe away the tons of drool! He also just started to stick his tongue out and suck on his bottom lip, so cute!

Big Guy

How cute is our little man!

My first flight!

My musical Grandma!

Roll Over

This morning during tummy time Jake did it! He rolled over, and i wasn't helping him or anything! I couldn't believe it when he wasn't scared or upset afterwards so i put him back on his belly to see if he could do it again and he did! So exciting! So I called Chris and then Mom and then Katie - telling everyone who i knew would answer their phones, and while talking to Katie he did it again! Busy Man!

So exciting - and yes i cried! I think its because yesterday he had a great day 2 long naps, and a full nights sleep, i know i'm jinxing it but for the first time in for ever he slept from 10pm to 7am! Yes i had to wake up and pump but it was soooo wonderful! Now if i can try to do exactly what i did yesterday we'll be very happy campers here in mississippi!

This week we were so excited we actually were planning on going to jackson on Thursday so chris could play in a golf tournament and jake and i play at a hotel pool - then head down to the gulf for chris' birthday vacation a little late. Too bad Ike is coming and again will probably fill all the hotels let alone ruin the weather. so another weekend in Tupelo with not much to do! We'll be thinking of all of you fun people going to sara and dave's wedding so do an extra dance for us!

We are heading to michigan on the 19th so we'll see you soon!

Till then enjoy this picture we took last weekend of Buffalo park with Grandma Janet - notice the wonderful sights of the camel, donkeys, Buffalo, and the huge car sale at the furniture market a very natural landscape don't you think!

10 weeks

Baby Jake is 10 weeks old and watched his first Michigan game on Saterday, and as much as we tried he just wouldn't look angry with the score.

We headed to Birmingham Alabama on sunday to find some kind of adventure. What we found was a town a bit like detroit a bit old and 1/2 abandoned, but luckily it had a satilite campus of the university of alabama which had a decent sized area of life and micro brews! We also found a beautiful botanical garden to walk around until night hit and the bugs came out. This is a great shot of me pinching Valcon's butt who looks over the city of Birmingham. don't worry as we walked out another couple asked if it turned out because that he done the same thing!

Yesterday we finnaly made it to the pool so i could get a bit of a tan - what i've been looking forward to for ever and of course because of Gustov it was not sunny or even very warm! Its been averaging 90' since i've been down here and not that i'm complaining but the past few days have been cloudy and only around 85 or so.

Jake is doing well trying to giggle at least once a day and is very happy to be healthy and back on breast milk. Hope you all had a great holiday weekend.

I hate Elvis

So Jake is a beautiful 2 month old! And he loves his Horton Elephant, and we love his wonderful new giggle!

He also has a great Elvis snarl.

Yet when my mom came down this weekend for a visit we innocently walked around Elvis's birth place, Tupelo's claim to fame, i innocently took one step off the grass onto some Innocent looking grass/wood chips, and got stung by some wonderful fire ants! Yes we looked it up they don't bite they have stingers and actually inject venom into you! Turns out this is the first thing in my whole life that i've found that I'm allergic to! Nice right, so 10 min after i got stung we went to Walgreen's because my foot really itched and hurt, it was only when i stopped to ask the pharmacist if there was anything that worked well on fire ants knowing nothing about them since we don't have them at home. Anyway as i was saying only then did i start to look at myself, and i had hives all over my stomach and arms. He sent us on our way saying that simple benedril would get ride of them, but as we headed for home mom got one more look at me and turned the car around and to the ER we went. Bottom line the Dr. told me it was a good thing i'm not staying in the south very long because i wouldn't last. He actually suggested that i go see a Dr this week to follow up after my 2 shots of steroids a 6 day pack of more steroids to take this week and2 other prescriptions because i might need to keep an Epy pen with me at all times because if i encounter fire ants again I will have a worse reaction. Seriously the hives which again i had never had before covered at least 35% of my body! Insaine! It was so gross, after an hour in the ER the hives seemed like they all connected to look like one big red inflaided balloon under my skin here is an early on pic of my arm.

Thank god mom was here to take Jake home to get him some food, since we were at the ER forever! So needless to say Jake is staying of the roids this week and trying some formula and the little bit of breast milk i was able to freeze since we've been here. For which i hope he is happy!

He also love his daddy today on his big 33rd birthday!

Smiles

Mississippi week one! We've been doing well trying to figure out our routine. I must say it is wonderful to have chris come home everynight, its great to have the opportunity to share the baby and the responsibilities everynight. Ok well i've just been excited to cook dinner with out worrying about what jake is doing.

The weekend before we left we had a great time camping with my family up north, grandma helped out alot and i was able to relax in the water, and around the campfire, pinyata, and just with adults! I must say camping with a newborn wasn't too bad, we were lucky to have good weather, and a nice big tent.

Jake has been smiling and laughing alot more these days, its so much fun to really be able to play with him now. He's growing so fast, at his 5 week appointment he was 9lb 4 oz, and since they said he is gaining about an ounce a day, so he could be over 10 lb now!

Last weekend we drove an hour south to Starksville, home of Mississippi State - trying to find something fun to do - we found a couple of places to stop and enjoy the new senery and the home of Tennesee Williams, but nothing too exciting to visit again. We also stopped in Columbus another town advertised as something fun but really its just another Columbus that we don't care too much for! Must be in the name.

Jake really likes to nap on his belly, butt up in the air! He also has been conviced to like the sling every once in a while! Thank you Joc, and Britta!

What we've been up to.

Our weekend at Tawas Jake at 3 1/2 weeks, we had lots of fun.

Jake in Grand Rapids visiting his cousins! So very cute at the park!

Jake and his new friend Maggie - Katie's little one at 12 weeks Jake at 3 wks. I'm not sure if he's ready for the ladies just yet.

Look how i can streach! 4 weeks and growing!

yesterday at 5 weeks the Dr. Said he was 9lb and 4 oz and 20 1/2 inches long!

Jake is doing well and is excited about his first trip to Mississippi! Mom is excited and nervious, as you would expect. I am excited that last week i got to have a girls night to gab about the realities of mother hood, i learned alot and had a great time gabbing.

Jake thinking!

Ok i think he's very cute!

3 weeks

Jake's 3 week birtday! We are doing well, Jake is learning that at night its best to eat and go back to sleep, which i am very, very greatful for! He has now had 3 good nights in a row! We're crossing our fingers that we can keep them up. Jake still doesn't like to sit by himself though, if he's awake at all he likes to be held, I'm hoping one of these days he'll enjoy the swing or chair, or anything that isn't me holding him. Not that its not fun to hold him or great for us but it would be nice to make dinner or type with two hands every once in a while!

As sad as i am to see him grow up, I just want to see him stay small, or as my nieces say teentsy tinny, I'm amazed at how he's smiling, and holding his head up. I love love love the smiles!

Baby Jake 2 weeks

Jake and i have been hanging out with friends this week and i'm learning what the new normal is going to be, or welll he's teaching me that everyday will be different! Its challening. I must say! will blog more when he finnaly naps!

He knows he's cute!

Baby Jake

We did it! We had a beautiful baby Boy! Jake Mathew arived on tuesday the 24th at 6:38. He is perfect, after a long and scary labor, we ended up helping the little guy out via c-secion. He was an adorable 7lb 3 oz when he was born, and after losing 7 oz in the hospital our pediatricion was impressed that he had already started gaining weight by saterday.

Jake has been so much fun. He was an excelent wedding guest at Mom and Lee's wedding just the day after he was released from the hospital. Sleeping through the ceremony and even smiling for a frosting fight when the grand children cut the cake.

Chris and I our doing great, we're tag teaming at night with each of us taking a shift at night feeding him. I've been able to pump during the day so that we can keep him on breast milk and still alow me to sleep! Hurray! Will post more pic's later because i know that is the main reason to check in! Thanks for all of your well wishes!

Pic's at 7 days late

Ok here are a few pic's The one of me in blue is today officially 7 days late.

The other is of me laughing at my belly and my silly baby that doesn't want to come out.

Soon, is a relative term!

Ok for those of you that still think i'm going to have this baby soon, you'll have to let me know what that means! here i am at 41 weeks, still no regular contractions, or action happening, so mother nature/stubborn baby is going to get a little help, we're hoping an induction tomorrow will bring us a baby instead of just an ever growing belly! Oddly enough tomorrow is also our exact 2nd anniversary, and 3 of our friends/family's birthdays. I'm hoping combined with the drugs that they'll be pumping through me these things will bring us luck and baby!

Sorry no pic, it seems i'm stuck at home today with no purse, I left it in my car that chris has in detroit today, so even though its my last day of freedom i'm locked pretty much in the house! I guess i'm getting forced into that "nesting"thing that everyone gets before they go into labor! Funny how things work out! I'll get artificial labor, and artificial nesting! As long as we get a real baby we'll be happy!

Alleged due date

So at my Dr's appointment this morning we saw no progress. He said I was not dialated at all, but after he was done performing a slightly painful procedure I am now dialated to 1cm. So the hope is that if what he did today does anything i'll see some kind of action with in 24 hours if not. I don't get to go back in until friday at which time they will give me something to soften me up which will hopefully do SOMETHING if not i get to schedule an induction date for NEXT week!

Crazy crazy but that is where we're at as of today. I'll try to keep you all posted of any kind of progress, till then i'll be walking as much as possible to have gravity help me encourage baby Carnell to come out and say hello!

I'm hoping is see something happen soon but as of now 7 hours after i left the dr.'s office i still don't feel much happening. Thanks ahead of time for all of your positive thoughts, send them all my way!

Kele

39 weeks no action

I'm afraid my Dr's appointment produced no progress, i was verrrrry sad when he told me that I'm not dialated at all!! I was so hoping to have this baby ASAP so that chris could be here with baby for as long as possible! He's here for good until baby arrives and plans to take a week off after baby is born but is here for sure until the end of the week of the 16th so if I have the baby now he'll be in town straight for 2 weeks - better than one! Anyway I'm sure every prego wants to have the baby sooner rather. But i'm deffinatly ready, i even had a pedicure today (thanks Joc) so every bit of me is ready! Except of course the part that dialates and delivers the baby apparently! Too bad i hear that is the important part! :-)

I'm trying to keep busy and walk lots as my Dr. tells me he can't say it will help but it deffinatly won't hurt! Next appointment is next monday first thing that i hopfully won't make it too so cross your fingers for me!

38 weeks

Here I am at 38 weeks, well today my blog says 12 days to go! So that means baby can arive anytime after friday at 4pm. When chris fly's in!! We drove up to Michigan on friday and had a great weekend working around the house and visiting with family and friends! Its nice to see people again! We even had a fire on sunday night with Mom and Lee and our Neighbors which was mostly relaxing, (those older neighbors can talk your ear off).

Anyway i'm feeling good, i got a prenatal massage done today and it was wonderful! Thanks Aunt Sharon! You never know how sore you are until someone finds ALL the knots in your body! Mom and i also made cookies today which was fun and yummy! That must be why my belly looks extrodenarily large today!

Anyway my Dr. said on monday said that the head is still down, which was even confirmed by a last minute ultra sound, since she couldn't tell by examing me if it was the head. The Dr. said this was because it hasn't dropped yet which at 38 weeks it usually has. I'm not dialated or "thinned" at all yet so she said she will deffinatly see me next week for my appointment, which is good news. For some reason I've been confidently planning to have this baby the week of the 9th! Maybe a bit to0 optimistics, but watch out i'll be walking my tush off starting friday to help convice the baby to come out!

Last week in Mississippi

So I know this sounds weird but i'm learning to slow down these last few weeks. We went to Memephis this weekend Saterday and Sunday and it was nice to get out of town just the two of us and check out some place new. The town was perfect as we had a trolly stop right in front of our hotel so when I got tired it was only $1 to go home! Unfortunatly it was really hot! But luckily Beale Street - the main street filled with bars, with blues bands, also had Hawaiian Shave us for those of us that couldn't order up the Big As Beale Street Beer! I loved the Symphany by the river to fireworks, and a performance by the real "Four tops".

The baby however odd this sounds is getting heavy! My back is finnaly starting to hurt because of the amount of weight i'm carring up front and getting up is proving to me more and more difficult. Chris and I are driving home on friday so cross your fingers for me that the 13 hour drive goes quickly! then cross your fingers again that the baby won't come until after the 9th, which is when chris will start working out of detroit until baby arives. So from the 2nd till the 6th we'll be hoping the baby doesn't want out, since those will be the only days chris and i will be in different states!

This art in Memphis is supposed to sympolize the curves of the Mississippi, I thought my "curves" fit right in!

36 Weeks

Pictures! I have lots of pictures to share now that i've been with out my tequnology for the last 3 weeks. Yes, that means we made it to Michigan this weekend and it was so nice to be at our house again for at least a little while. Michigan is beautiful in the spring, so green! I'm hoping that our peonies wait to bloom until we get home. Maybe until little Carnell arives.

It was also a very fun time to play with our gifts that so many of you gave us at our showers. It was fun trying to decide if bib's go in the kitchen or the nursery. I know important stuff. The wonderful thing is that i have Chris to help me organize and make room for things like sippy cups, and bottles!

This picture of me dressed up was at a wedding when i was 32 weeks when i wasn't sure how i would get any bigger, crazy i know!

We were also lucky and honored to become Sammy's Zeller's Godparents this weekend! He was a champ and even a head to toe dunk in the Holy Water didn't make him cry! Check out his cute little outfit. He was one of five little ones getting Baptised but was deffinaly the star of the show. (Proud God Parent speaking!)

We also got to visit the Carnells at Grandma Yola's, Victoria was nice enough to give Uncle Chris some songs to sing for her baby cousin. I also fit in some "Adult Trick or Treating" aka Subdivision Garage Saleing! Mom, Aunt Mar, Grandma and I did some damage! Lots of baby clothes, and everything else for that matter.

Ok and I know i'm nuts but I talked about a gymnastics picture an i thought at 1 month to go it was time to take the picture! So i hope this last one gives everyone a good giggle!

As for me I'm feeling good most of the time. The baby, I like to say likes to swim north. So at crunched times, like on the plane today i kept pushing feet out of my ribs! Sitting up as opposed to the picture of my bridge is the hardes thing, I officially have no ab muskles. And sitting up is officially my hardest excercise! I had my 36 week appointment today and the Dr. said that the head is down and that i'm measuring at 35-36 weeks so right on target. I also had him check me and i'm not dialated at all which is great! I'd like to keep this little one right where he or she is until at least June 1st when i'm parked in Michigan for the long hall!

P.s. Thanks to those of you that post comments it helps me to feel like someone hears me.