Jacob's First Christmas

Jacob had a great first Christmas, he got a few new toys, lots of clothes, and got to meet a few new family members. Here are a bunch of pictures with some captions of what was going on...enjoy!!

A few weeks before Christmas we went to my parent's neighborhood for a breakfast with Santa. It was lots of fun, they had good food, Santa came in on a helicopter, and we got our picture taken with the big man himself. Jacob wasn't quite sure what to think of Santa, but he did pretty well.

Waiting on Santa in the helicopter

There he is!!

So excited!

Getting kisses from daddy!

Picture with Santa

On Christmas Eve we went to John's parent's house to eat and see John's brother and his kids, and John's grandparents. It was a lot of fun with great food, but I forgot the camera, so sorry, no pictures. When we got home Jacob got to open his Christmas Eve present (it's tradition to always open one present on Christmas Eve), and John got to help.

Opening the present.

It's a book! 'Twas the Night Before Christmas

He and John read it together before bed.

After Jacob went to bed, John and I went to work. John got the fun job of putting the Bounce-a-Bout together, while I was makeing twice baked potatos to take to my parent's house the next day.

Santa hard at work!

What Santa left for Jacob!

On Christmas morning, John's parents and grandparents came over for breakfast and to open presents.

Jacob checking out all his goodies!

Here is a quick rundown of how we opened gifts, I won't bore you with all the pictures from opening all the gifts.

Jacob would pick out which gift he wanted to check out.

He'd hand it to daddy for a little help opening.

Then daddy would hand it back and let Jacob check it out/eat it.

And when necessary, daddy would take the new item out of the box for optimal chewing.

Jacob with his stocking.

New squirty bath toys (first item out of the stocking)

Yay!! New socks!! Just what I always wanted!!

Jacob got lots of clothes from John's parents, he wanted to wear them all, so we piled them on top of him!

Playing in his new Bounce-a-Bout

He really likes this, I think it might be his favorite thing from Christmas

Standing at his new music table (with a little assistance)

Jacob with Nonnie and Papa (John's grandparents)

All the loot!

After breakfast and a good nap (for Jacob), we went over to my parent's house for more gifts and lunch. My brother and sisters-in-law and there two kids were in town from Wisconsin for the first time since Jacob was born, also my brother from San Francisco and my Grandmother were here, so we a great time catching up with everyone and letting everyone meet Jacob.

Meeting cousin Anya (she was so excited about "baby Jacob")

Meeting cousin Charlie (these two are almost exactly a year apart, I'm sure they will be getting into all sorts of trouble together when Jacob gets a little older/mobile)

Finally home from a long day (wearing his new bear coat from Mama Joyce)

4 Months (A Month Late, Sorry)

Here are some pictures of Jacob at 4 months, sorry I forgot to post last month, just got busy. Jacob had a great 4 month checkup at the doctor last month, he weighed 13 lbs 15 oz (about 25%)!

With Daddy

With Smitty

Sucking his thumb

Caly sure does love him!



He's very ticklish!

Smiling for the camera

4 Months with Mr. Bear

Merry Christmas!

Growing up I always loved to look at the Christmas cards that we got in the mail, you know, the ones with all the pictures on them that say "Merry Christmas from the _____". We never received a whole bunch, but the few that we did get were always fun to look at. I loved seeing how families had grown and expanded over the years to add children, dogs, cats, etc. Now, this was never a tradition that my family had, we didn't take the "holiday picture" to send out for all to see, and I always imagined that when I got older and started my own family I would definitely send out Christmas cards.

Well, that is easier said than done. The last two years that I have been married, I have thought about and planned out what the picture and card would look like, but just never got around to taking the picture and actually buying the cards. SO, now that Jacob is here and out little family has grown and changed so much in the last year, I am not going to put this to the side anymore! I have already decorated the mantle in the house (I kinda got bored this last weekend and had some new garland and things from my mom) and told John that as soon as we get Jacob's stocking (his mom and grandmother are making it for him!) we are taking the picture and I am ordering cards!! And he reluctantly said ok.

I just can't wait to look back on these one day and be able to watch as our family grows and changes!

So, now I have to decide where to get the cards from and what I want them to look like/say. Well, that's easy enough. I already have an account with Shutterfly.com and all my pictures are already loaded there, I am even getting almost all of my Christmas gifts from there this year (hint, hint to any family reading this)!! So, it's perfect! I went on there website and started looking around and found some great options. There's this one:


Which is beautiful and would frame the picture I have mocked up in my head perfectly, and I love that it says "Christmas" not "Holidays".

Or there's this one:


Which is a little more classic, but I don't know if I could talk John into getting it!!

Or this one:



Which I love because you can add more than one picture.

So many choices, I don't know what I'll end up with!

So, if you are looking from a Christmas card, or just for a gift for a family member (check out these calendars, these mugs, and these mouspads for a few great ideas) go to Shutterfly.com for some awesome ideas.

Also, if you are a blogger, go here to register to get 50 free Christmas cards by simply writing a blog post like this one!!

3 Months!!

Alot has been going on around here over the last month. I started back to work two nights a week at the beginning of October, it is going pretty well. John does great with Jacob, he gets to put him to bed and get up with him twice during the night, and I am usually home to get him up and feed him breakfast and watch him during the day. It has been an adjustment (with less sleep for both of us) but, I am so glad we were able to work it out and not have to take him to daycare (not that I have something against daycare, but it is SO expensive and with my schedule it isn't something that we need on a regular, weekly basis). Jacob has a few new tricks, he is practically holding his head up on his own, he loves to sit on your lap and watch tv or play with toys, he constantly has his hands in his mouth chewing/sucking on them, he is rolling over from his tummy to his back, he has started "playing" with toys (kinda batting at them to make a sound), he loves to smile/coo/laugh at you, and is becoming quite ticklish. He is so much fun and a joy to be around! We are starting to get into a schedule with the man, and he is doing great with it. He gets up around 7:30 and is on a 3 hour eating schedule with about an hour and a half naps (in his crib!!) in between, and then is in bed by 7:30 at night, getting up around 2 and 5 in the morning. Not too bad, it really helps having his nap times to get things done around the house, and running errands are a lot easier knowing when he will eat and sleep! We are looking forward to the next two months, with so much family coming into town and getting to meet the little guy for the first time!!

Sitting in his new Bumbo seat, playing with his toys (and Caly)!

Laying in bed with Daddy, watching tv

Sitting in the Bumbo seat, holding up his head so well!!

Caly can't stand it when John is holding Jacob, she has to be right there with them!

Playing on his new playmat

He loves to lay on his changing table and be tickled and "talk" to you! So cute!

Chewing on his hands, his new favorite pass-time

Laughing on his changing table

3 month picture with Mr. Bear (his face looks so much older to me!!)

2 Month Update

Well, it has officially been 2 months since our little man was born and he has changed so much! We can tell such a difference, even in the last 2 weeks or so. He is now smiling, laughing, and cooing at anyone and everyone that will glance his way. He loves to be held and cuddled, and I think his favorite thing is watching tv with daddy. He rolled over from his stomach to his back for the first time last Saturday, since then I have been trying to get a video of him in action, but he hasn't repeated the roll fully yet. He will get more than half way over, but can't quite seem to get that pesky leg to kick the rest of the way. He is eating like a champ! He goes 3 to 4 hours between feedings during the day, his last feed is about 8 or 9 and then he will sleep until about 2 or 3 (6 hours!) and then go right back down and sleep until 6 or 7 (4 or 5 hours!). This new night time schedule is definitly making for a happy mommy! We went to the doctor's for a check up yesterday and everything went great! He had to get 4 shots, but was a trooper through the whole thing. His official stats are: Height - 23 inches (52%) Weight - 11 lbs 8 oz (50%) Head Size - 15 3/4 inches (50%). Jacob is such a joy and we are enjoying every minute (even if it is going by too fast!), we can't wait to see what new surprizes he has for us down the road!

Getting so big in his bouncer!

Watching College Gameday

Holding up his head like such a big boy!

Sleeping on Daddy

Holding up his head again

(sorry it's a little blurry)

2 month picture with Mr. Bear