December 2011: Creek Fun

This winter was a very mild one, which meant we got to spend a lot of unexpected time outside. One of Jack's favorite things to do is go to the creek with Jason and throw rocks into the water. It's great Father-Son bonding time!

So Big!

November 2011: Just Hangin' Out

Hangin' out while Momma practices the piano

Funny Close-Up

November 2011: Christmastime Is Here!

We typically wait until after Thanksgiving to put up our Christmas decorations. But this year, we actually put them up earlier. We had a weekend with not much going on ... and I was feeling less nauseous than usual, so we decided to make good use of the time and drag out the Christmas decorations. In the past, we've waited and decorated while Jack was asleep. But this year, we decided he was old enough to help! He really enjoyed it! And even though I'm usually opposed to having the decorations up before Thanksgiving, I must admit, I really enjoyed having the decorations up longer!

Helping to fluff the branches out 

Putting the star on top ... with Daddy's help 

November 2011: "Rest" Time

With all of the sleep issues we were having with Jack, we decided once I was not working outside of the home anymore that we would cut out Jack's nap time. It definitely helps with the bedtime routine and nighttime sleep (for the most part), but it often makes for a very long afternoon and evening. So we came up with a compromise of sorts. Instead of "nap time," Jack and I have "rest" time. I let him take a few toys into his room where he can play quietly on his own for about an hour and a half. It gives us both a break from each other. And sometimes ... this is what happens!

October 2011: Lucky Ladd Farms

Ever since Jack was born, we had talked about going to visit a pumpkin patch in the fall, but for some reason, every year something came up and we never made it. But not this year. This year, we headed to Lucky Ladd Farms in Eagleville, Tennessee on the day before Halloween! We were afraid it would be packed, but it really wan't too bad ... and we all three had a BLAST! I'm so glad we decided to go. 

King of Tire Mountain

It's hard to tell from this picture, but this is a very large mountain of very large tires! 

I think Jack could have stayed and played at these water pumps racing rubber ducks all day!

I love this big smile on his face! You can tell he's having so much fun! 

One of the best features of the farm is this huge slide. It took a little bit of persuading to get Jack to go down it the first time, but loved it once he went down!

Sliding with Daddy

Sliding with Momma 

"Look at all of the pumpkins!"

"Hi!" 

Another highlight of our trip was riding the "train" that was pulled by a tractor.  

They had another slide that was a tube slide. Jack discovered it was a blast to go down it backward on his tummy!

Swingin' on the tire swing

Digging in the sand with the "dozer-dozer" ... as he calls it

More fun on the train

After several rides on the train, Jack's "Hi!" turned into "Bye!" I think he would have loved to ride this all day long!

It was such a fun day ... a great distraction from the exhaustion and nausea of being pregnant! There were so many other things that we didn't have time to do while we were there! I think a trip to Lucky Ladd will be one of our new favorite fall family traditions!

October 2011: Fall on the Farm

Fall is by far our family's favorite time of year! Every fall, we like to go out to the Skulley farm land and get pictures of Jack. Jason is an amazing photographer! Here are our favorites from this fall!

The old dinner bell

 Jack loves to ring the bell!

Driving Pa's tractor 

So handsome (and big) ... I can hardly stand it!

"Run!"

Making a goofy face 

Inspecting the acorn very closely

"Hay!" 

We invited some of our best friends out to the farm that day to get some pictures of their kids. I love this one of Mae and Jack sitting on the hay bale. Hoping they'll be good friends forever! 

Pa showed up just in time to get some lovin' in on Jack! 

September 2011: Gulf Shores Vacation

We love the beach! So we decided to take another fall beach vacation to Gulf Shores. In fact, we went back to the same exact condo we stayed in during the fall of 2009. It's the perfect kid-friendly, relaxing vacation! Last time we were here, Jason and I both got terribly sick. So we were praying this trip would be virus-free ... and praise the Lord .. it was!

Jack was a great age to really enjoy the beach. He enjoyed exploring much more and we didn't feel like we had to hover over him all of the time. He wasn't a huge fan of how the sand felt on his feet, but as long as he could stand on a wave board or sit on a towel, he enjoyed digging in the sand!

Perfect example of him refusing to stand on the sand ... see him standing on the wave board? 

A sweet couple walking down the beach offered to take a family photo of us. I'm so glad they did, because it's the only one we got on the whole trip! I want to remember to offer to do this for people when I have the chance!

 Lovin' on Daddy

Cheesin' with Momma

Enjoying  the fresh air and sunshine together

It took some convincing to get Jack to get close to the water. When he sat down here, I don't think he expected to get wet, so he wasn't happy when the wave came up!

He definitely didn't ever get used to the feel of the sand anywhere but on his feet. Here is trying to wipe the sand off of his hand ... only to realize ...

"Oh no! Now it's on my belly!"

The condo we like to stay at has a great kiddie pool!

I love that he's too cool to even take his shades off in the pool!

Love this silly face!

Cuddle time is rare these days, so I soak it up when I get the chance!

One of Jack's favorite parts of the whole vacation ... pushing the elevator buttons!

Can we just stay here forever? I love God's beautiful creation!

This really was an amazing vacation! But it was special for another reason too. It was on this vacation that we discovered that I was pregnant! Hooray! Luckily, the morning sickness had not yet kicked in, so I was able to enjoy the vacation more than if we had waited to go a few weeks later!

Even now, 8 months after this trip, Jack still talks about the beach and asks to go back. I'm hoping we'll get to go again in the fall!