Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!! We hope you have a wonderful one.
Love,
Jess, Jarod and Jacoby

Jacoby's First Photo Shoot

When my mom was here we had a fun little photo shoot with Jacoby. Well we thought it was a lot more fun than he did. Here are some of the shots that we got that day. We did lots of outfit changes but I am holding on to some of the others for another day!

2 week old cutie!

Our little family! I love these boys so much.

This is one of my favorite pictures! He is so content and happy. I think we have a little model on our hands or maybe he is just trying to be like Uncle Rob.

Wide awake with those big blue eyes that are changing every day.

That is his mommy's nose for sure! There is no denying it.

This is what I look like with no sleep and no make up. I am not even sure if I got my teeth or hair brushed yet and this was late in the afternoon. I wouldn't trade it for anything though.

Jacoby in his snowman outfit. We thought it was fitting considering the blizzard we have been having lately along with the -30 temps. Let's just say Jake hasn't ventured out much yet. We stay inside and snuggle with mommy and daddy.

We took this picture this afternoon. He was out and was drooling. Nothing is sweeter than a sleeping baby especially one with his mouth wide open drooling.

Our Sweet Little Boy

I know I am a little behind posting pictures of my little guy, but this is what I spend my days doing now and I cannot think of a better way!!! Jacoby is doing great! He is such a cuddler and has such a sweet spirit about him. We are so happy to have him here and the last two weeks have been incredible!

Tired boys in the hospital. Jarod is such a wonderful daddy and has been absolutely wonderful in supporting his emotional wife.

One of our many faces we make.

Getting ready to go home from the hospital on Friday afternoon. We bought this little outfit in Dublin. The same day I felt Jacoby move inside of me for the first time. He was so cute in it!!

Jarod was so funny driving us home. I wasn't allowed to talk and he was 10 and 2 the whole way home and shaking. It was really cold outside and it was snowing. It was snowing the night that Jacoby was born as well.

In our cute little outfit with the hat that Great Grandma Gill knitted for him.

My boys! I love this picture. Jake is so content and so is his Daddy!!

He loves sleeping on my chest. It is his favorite place to be.

Jacoby's first sponge bath. He liked it! Even though he is looking at me wondering what the heck just happened because it happened so fast. I think we could have set a world record on how fast we had him in and out with the help of his dad. I was trying to take pictures and only had time to snap one picture and he was done. Jarod was afraid he was going to get cold.

These pictures are a from last week. I will try and download some new ones here soon. We are doing great! My mom flew in last Monday night and left yesterday. It was hard to have her leave! It was so nice to have her here to help me and to meet Jacoby. He loves his Mamma. Thanks Mom so much for everything!!! We love you and can't wait to see you in a few weeks.

It's a BOY!!!!

Jacoby James Jostes

7 lb. 1 ounce

20 1/2 inches long

Our precious baby boy arrived after 15 1/2 hours of labor on December 3, 2008 at 9:55 pm!! He is 7 lbs. 1 ounce and 20 1/2 inches long. Mommy and Jake are doing great!! We came home from the hospital yesterday and have just been enjoying our time together with this little one. He loves to snuggle and the only thing he likes better than that is eating.

We couldn't be happier and we are so in love with our new little guy!

I've Been Tagged

I've been tagged by Ericka to post the fourth picture in your picture file and tag four people. I don't think I have four people who haven't been tagged yet but at least I will post the picture.
So this picture was taken over Spring Break this year in San Diego. We went to go and see Elish and Rob and rented bikes for a tour around the bay. It was a beautiful day and we had a great time! The bikes made you have perfect posture and I could not stop laughing riding behind Jarod. He looked hysterical!
Man, I actually had a waist and a figure! I hope I get back there someday soon.

Looking back on the last 36 weeks

Wow! I cannot believe that on Friday I hit the 36 week mark. Pregnancy has been an incredible journey and I cannot believe that it is almost over. I thought a lot this weekend about the last 36 weeks and realized that I needed to reflect a little bit more on this journey before it is over. So here are a few highlights so I can remember them later.

Jarod and I took a pregnancy test on Saturday, March 29 and were shocked, excited and scared when it showed a very light pink line. We took another one just to make sure. We were both very nervous since I had miscarried before and I don't think that either of us wanted to get our hopes up.

On April 1, April Fool's Day we called the doctor that morning and he told us to come in for a blood draw. We were both really nervous and we were just hoping that everything would be all right this time around. We got a call later that day confirming that we were pregnant! Our doctor wanted to watch us very closely for the first couple of weeks so every other day for two weeks I went to the doctor to have my blood drawn to make sure my levels were rising. I absolutely hate having my blood drawn and have been known to pass out on quite a few occasions so this was quite a challenge for me but it is amazing what you will do if you know that it is for your baby.

After two weeks, we went in for another doctor's appointment and he told us that everything looked great and he was pretty certain that we didn't have anything to worry about this time around. What a relief!! Jarod and I were so excited and finally let our guard down and allowed ourselves to feel all of the emotions.

I felt great for the first nine weeks of pregnancy other than the nervousness that I had constantly wondering if everything was ok. At nine weeks, I got morning sickness that lasted for 5 1/2 months. I have to tell you that I am so thankful for the morning sickness that I had and I know that it was a blessing in my life ( I sound crazy don't I). Every time I felt sick or threw up I knew that the baby was ok. It was the only thing during those few months that put my mind at ease and reassured me on a daily basis. I have never been more thankful for being sick.

On July 3, Jarod and I were walking through Dublin and I stopped in my tracks and told him that I felt something weird. He knew immediately that it was the baby. I was not so sure. The next day we went back to London and as we were walking around I felt the same things. I was still not convinced. We flew home that night and the next day as we were sitting on the couch recovering from jet lag, I felt it again and knew it was the baby. I was so excited!! My new reassurance that everything was ok.

July 21 we had our 20 week ultrasound. It was absolutely amazing! We got to sit and watch the baby move for an hour and 40 minutes! When we got there the baby was a sleep and we watched it wake up and stretch vertebrae by vertebrae. It was such a wonderful experience.

July 30 Jarod felt the baby move for the first time. We were sitting on the couch and I felt the baby move I took his hand and placed it on my belly and the baby kicked. His entire face lit up and I have never seen him more excited! I will never forget the look on his face.

The only food that the baby reacts to and that I crave is frozen grapes. It is the weirdest thing but every time I eat them the baby goes crazy and it is all I want to eat. I guess there could be worse things.

I started showing right off the bat and thought I was huge and now I look back on pictures and think how tiny I was. I was in maternity pants by the end of my first trimester but I can still wear regular shirts at 36 weeks. Oh how I am going to miss maternity pants though. I have decided that I love elastic.

September 28, the baby had the hiccups for the very first time. I could not figure out for a few minutes what the deal was and then it dawned on me. The baby continues to have them quite a bit sometimes 3-4 times a day. I don't think that I have a very patient one either. The baby puts up with the hiccups for a few minutes and then gets really annoyed and starts moving around like crazy until they go away. I might be in trouble!!

This has been such an amazing experience and I have really enjoyed being pregnant. I know that I am going to miss feeling the baby move but I am so excited for this little one to get here! I can't wait to meet our baby. We have waited a long time for this little one.

Northwestern vs. Ohio State

Every year, Jarod and I try to hit at least one new college football stadium. This year we had the opportunity to go to the Northwestern vs. Ohio State game.

There were so many Ohio State fans that you felt like you were at one of their home games. Poor Northwestern!

We had a great time even though it was 32 degrees with the wind chill. We were ok as long as we were in our seats but every time I got up to go to the bathroom, which is constantly these days, I froze! We were so happy that we got a new stadium in this year with everything else that has been going on so we kept the tradition alive!

Jarod's First Shower

This last weekend Jarod flew to Omaha to watch Connor coach against the team that Jim Jostes used to play for back in the day. Jarod has a lot of family that lives in or near Omaha so they had quite a crowd between the Leinen's and Jostes' for Fort Hays State vs. UNO.

Jarod and his family after the game.

After the game, Jarod's aunts threw him a Baby Shower. He was so excited to go to his first shower. I was bummed that I couldn't be there but I am too close to delivery and not allowed to travel.

They had a book themed shower which was perfect! Here is Jarod sporting one of his new favorite book. He had such a good time and was a very proud dad showing off the newest ultrasound pictures and pregnancy photos of me.

When he got home, he was so excited to show me all the books and he read them all to the baby that day. All 29 of them!

Apple Orchard

A few weeks ago, Jarod and I decided to drive to Wisconsin to go and pick apples. I love apple season in the Midwest! We drove across the Wisconsin border and went to this apple orchard/ pumpkin patch. It was a really cute place but I thought this Golden Goat Bridge was hysterical! They had these tracks that the goats could walk from one side of the farm to the other over the people walking below them. They were pretty smart and depending on what side had more people feeding them they would race from side to side.

Here is a trek back to the other side for food. There was no tricking these smart goats. They had it all figured out.

I love apple season here because there are so many different types that I had never heard of before moving here. We were a little late this year for much picking but we still ventured out to the orchards to check it out.

One lonely apple on the tree. Next year we will have to go earlier so we can pick our own but at least we still got to enjoy them and it was much easier picking them out of a crate!

Me and Baby all bundled up. It was cold and windy!

It was a great day and nice to get away from the city for the day. Sometimes you just need a little bit of fresh air and some goats to make you feel at home :)

Happy Birthday!

October is a big month for my family and birthdays, considering that my two favorite men in the entire world have birthdays two days apart! And yes this post is a little outdated!!
My Dad's Birthday was October 12. Last year my dad was here for his birthday but since I can't travel any more we had to celebrate over the phone. Happy Birthday Dad! I love you and hope you enjoyed your book. I can't wait for you to share it with the baby in a few weeks.

October 14 was Jarod's 29th Birthday! I can't believe it! The first birthday of his that we celebrated was 15. Wow, how time flies!! This was the birthday that nothing would come together though so it ended up being pretty low key and it wasn't lack of trying.
First, the Cubs made it to the play offs! That was the exciting news the bad news was that I had an in on tickets for Jarod's birthday but the Cubs got swept in three games and didn't make it far enough for us to go. I was so disappointed! I thought that would be the best gift and even bought him a new Cub's T-shirt to wear to the game. I ended up giving him the T-shirt but it wasn't nearly as exciting without the tickets.
After the Cubs tickets were a flop, I moved on to football tickets. Jarod and I have hit a new football stadium every year for the last few years taking in some college football games. I decided that it would be fun to take him to the Iowa- Wisconsin game this year. I have been working on tickets for a while and thought it was a done deal until two days before the game when I found out that our connection fell through. Strike 2.
So to make a long story short we ended up going to the Country Music Fest and seeing Taylor Swift, Cross Canadian Ragweed and a few other bands. We had a great time!
So Happy Birthday to my dad and Jarod! The best dad and husband a girl could ever ask for. I love you both!

The City of Brotherly Love

A few months ago, I was notified that I won a CIGNA Quarterly Champion Award for my Walk the Talk program. For being a winner I got to attend the CIGNA award ceremony in Philadelphia the first week of October. Jarod has school on Monday nights so he wasn't able to go with me. When I called to tell CIGNA this they told me that I could bring anyone from any where in the country. I was so excited that my mom got to attend with me!! They actually flew her in early to Chicago for the weekend and we flew together to Philadelphia.

There was about 150 people there that won awards through out the year. The evening started out by announcing the Quarterly Champion Winners and at the end of the night they announced the BIG Annual Award Winners. I was shocked to say the least when they called my name!! It is the biggest honor you can achieve at CIGNA and I was very humbled to receive it. Here is me posing with my two Tiffany awards. I wish the were jewelry not crystal awards but I am not complaining :)

The next day, my mom and I took in the sites of Philadelphia. We did the hop on hop off bus tour and saw all the history that the city had to offer. It was really neat to see the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and the famous Rocky steps.

We had a great time in Philadelphia but the highlight for me was having my mom in Chicago with Jarod and me. We were busy all weekend getting the nursery together and making lots of fun stuff for the baby. Actually my mom all the stuff while I watched. She is so talented! I will have to post some of the stuff she made. It is so cute! We had the best time!!

Saying good bye in the Philadelphia airport was very hard for me this time. You would think that I was new to all of this living away from home stuff but the last few times have been harder and harder. I miss my mom so much and it is hard to live away from her! She is such an amazing person and I feel so lucky to have her as my mother. I can only hope that I can be as good as mom as she is. I have such a wonderful teacher and look up to her in so many ways. I love you mom and can't wait to see you again in a few weeks when our baby decides to come. Let's just hope the little one cooperates and knows that it needs to wait for his Mama to get here because I will need my mom!!!

My Cute Nephews

I was so excited to be home to see my nephews!! They are so cute and I enjoy them so much. I hadn't seen Boden since he was born so he had changed a lot.
I know that my baby and these two boys will be the best of friends. Every time I held Boden my baby would kick and move around a lot. Michael was really funny when I was home as well. He always wanted to say hi to my baby and was constantly patting my belly and wanting to see my belly. I felt a huge connection between my baby and the boys like nothing I have ever felt before. I can't wait to watch them grow up together.

Boden is the sweetest baby I have ever met! He is so warm and has such a sweet presence about him. You can't help but fall in love with this little guy.

You can tell that Michael and him are brothers but Boden definitely has his own look about him.

He is such a happy and content baby and loves to cuddle! So I took every opportunity that I could to cuddle with him.

Check out those eye lashes!!! He was talking to Lacy in this picture. He is just too sweet.

I LOVE these three pictures of Michael. He is so funny!! He never hold still and is constantly going but he loves to look at his magazines. They are adds from Toy R Us and he can look at them for hours. I love his serious eye brows. He is so interested in what he is looking at.

Michael is ALL boy. He loves his trucks, cars. Lego's and trains but he hates when the train comes by the house and blows it's horn. It is pretty upsetting to him and he hides between your legs or climbs up on top of you and pats you on the back and tells you it's ok. I think that is his way of reassuring himself.

It is hard living so far away from the boys. I miss them so much! I can't wait to see them next time and introduce them to their new cousin.