Emma's First Birthday!

The real reason we headed to Boise was for this little girl's first Birthday. How she is even that old I don't even know.

She is so stinkin cute and so funny. She has this little stink eye that kills you. It is so funny!

She was a little overwhelmed at first by everyone at her birthday party

so she laid on the floor for a but- I am not sure what she was doing but I thought it was funny.

She is so stinkin cute and sassy too! I love it! She can hold her own with her 3 boy cousins.

I bought this horse for her a long time ago and Jacoby was so excited to give it to her. She loved it!

The best one we got- but we do keep on trying. Ash looks cute!

She is just beautiful! I love her cheesy grin that reminds me of her Daddy!

Emma didn't want to get her hands dirty and why waste time using hands she just sucked the cake away. So cute!

And she loved it! Her other grandma made her this cute zebra cake. It was Lace's Birthday too so Ash went with a Lacy type theme for sure! We also got to celebrate Michael's Birthday a few days later. We have lots of April Birthdays in our family.

On Sunday, I took ASh and her family out to take some pics. I thought this family one turned out really good.

I of course had get the big one year old picture with the balloon. A little family tradition in our family and they turned out so cute. She loved running around bare foot on the grass with the balloon.

We love you Emma so much! You are such a special little girl who has the whole world wrapped around your finger and you know it. Jacoby adores you and so does everyone else. Your mommy loves you very much! She wanted you so badly and I am so glad that she has you. I love to watch her with you and see what a great Mommy she is. We love you Emma Rose!

Fun with our "Friends" in Boise

We had so much fun in Boise like usual! Jacoby has so much fun playing with his cousins or as he calls them his friends. He had fun pushing Emma in the baby stroller and she even liked it. Not sure if the stroller will ever be the same but they enjoyed it.

My mom made these super cute dinosaur tails for the kids. They loved them, especially Boden who is a tad obsessed with dinosaurs right now.

They ran around the yard, stomping their feet and roared.

Emma was so cute in her tail.

Ah the parade... it was really funny! Emma was just trailing behind them but holding her own as they marched and marched. Boden even tried to eat dinner in his tail but he didn't quite fit on the chair. I think we have some pretty cute dinosaurs!

We had Jacoby's first movie night while we were in Boise. We watched the movie "Tangled". At first he was so excited to watch the movie and it even got better when Mamma made kettle corn. Jacoby was so funny he kept going back and asking for more. I think he had 4 plates full.

Emma cuddling with Paka watching the movie. After a while, the only ones left watching the movie were Michael, Kimber, Paka, Ash and me. Oh well we liked it!

Jacoby is in love with Lacy's new puppy Molly. He even told me the other day that Molly is his puppy but she is just in Boise. He loved playing with all the dogs and giving them treats.

Sunday everyone came over for dinner and Derek took the boys outside to play horsey on poor Sarge. My dad pulled this hat out and they wore it when they were riding on Sarge. I love this pic of Boden- it is so him! Look at him tippin his hat.

Paka makes a good horse too.

and there is cowboy Jacoby riding on his neigh. He thought it was so much fun!

We had the best time seeing everyone. It was a great trip!

You Make Us All Better

This sweet sweet boy melts my heart! A couple of weeks ago we were reading this book called what do you do. It goes through each animal and says what they do like the cow gives milk, the bee makes honey, etc. at the end of the book it says what do you do and Jacoby said, "I make my Mama and Daddy all better".
Last night, Jarod was out of town and Jacoby and I were here together. I felt a migraine coming on and quickly tried to get some Tylenol in me. Unfortunately it didn't work. I turned on a Mickey Mouse for Jacoby and went to take a bath in the dark- the only thing that makes me feel better when I have a migraine. I kept the doors all open so I could hear him. All I kept thinking was how am I going to get through tonight? How am I going to be able to take care of my baby and have a migraine? I really had no idea what I was going to do. I told myself I had 20 minutes, the length of Mickey Mouse, to get feeling better.
Well that didn't happen. Jacoby came to find me when it was over in the dark in the bath tub. He was instantly concerned and wanted to get in with me. So I told him he could but he needed to be very quiet. He got in and sat there and kept rubbing my leg and kissing me saying "Mama, all better??". I wasn't getting any better I was getting worse. Then I started throwing up and he got very concerned. Mind you we were still in the bath tub but I was leaning over the toilet. He was right next to me rubbing my back, crying for me and asking me if I was ok. When I got done, he very quietly came over and held me while I tried to pull myself together. I told him that we needed to get out of the bath tub and Mama needed to go to sleep. He didn't complain at all. We got out and got our jammies on. I asked him to sleep in my room with me because I couldn't even make it to his room. It was very early for him to go to bed but he laid there with me in the dark with his arms wrapped around me as tight as he could, kissing me all better every few minutes until I fell asleep.
Last night, Jacoby took care of me. I swear his little arms seemed bigger as he held me when I needed him too. He was so amazing. This morning he told his Daddy that he took good care of me which is what his daddy asks him to do every time as he is leaving.
Yes my sweet boy you do make your Mama all better in more ways than I could ever tell you.

Big Week

This week has been a really big week for us and I am one proud Mama!!!

First of all, when I was in Boise I was talking to my mom who told me that she was sure that Jacoby could be potty trained. I guess I just needed a little bit of reassurance because as soon as she said it I started making a plan. We talked in Boise that as soon as we got back to Chicago we were going to wear underwear and no more diapers. As soon as we walked in the door from the airport Jacoby told me that he needed to go potty and since then we have not looked back. No more diapers for Jacoby!!! We had a great day the first day. The second day was a little more challenging and on the third day I called my mom to tell her how much I hate potty training! We had three accidents before 9 am but much to my surprise we haven't had one again. The last three days he has done amazing! I am so proud of him!!

This week Jacoby said his first prayer all by himself. He has been copying what I say for a while but the other day he wanted to do it all by himself. It was really cute. It was the fourth prayer over lunch that day. He likes to make sure the food is really blessed. Then he said, Dear Heavenly Father, bless the food, name of Jesus AMEN! It was really funny!

Today while we were at church we went out to go to the bathroom for the third time during sacrament. When we were going back in Jacoby announced that he wanted to go to nursery. I said ok and just testing out the waters I asked him if he would like to go by himself today so Mama could go to her class too. He said sure. Then he proceeded to talk about it the rest of church and when sacrament was over we walked to nursery and after about 2 minutes he gave me a kiss and told me bye, bye Mama. I was a little stunned so I stood closer to the door for a minute talking to Steph and he seemed just fine. I walked out the door and watched him through the window. He wasn't even phased. He was busy playing with the other kids. I checked on him a few times and every time I did he was busy playing and watching over Ty who was upset. He was always right next to him when I looked in. Sweet boy. Anyway, when I came back to get him after Sunday school, he was so happy to see me and then told me he needed to go potty. We went potty but then he wanted to stay with Mama so instead of going back in we came home. The whole way out to the car and home he told me all about class. He told me he was very busy. He told me he didn't cry but he missed me. He told me Ty was sad and that he wanted his Mama. He told me that he wanted his Mama but then I came and picked him up. I told him that I was so proud of him! I told him that I missed him too. I thanked him for letting me go to class today and for being such a good boy and he told me "No problem, Mama!". Seriously how funny is that!

Sometimes I am reminded that this little boy knows so much. I struggled with nursery for a long time but then I decided that it wasn't worth the fight. I let him decide when he was ready and today for some reason was the day. This afternoon I looked at Jarod and said "How many times am I going to have to learn that when he is ready, he is ready". Jacoby's is just like that. Out of the blue he will decide he is comfortable with something and there is no looking back. We had three big things happen this week that he was ready for and I am one proud Mama of my growing boy- who swears he is still a baby!

Some Thoughts

So I have been thinking a lot lately about journaling. I am a horrible journal writer always have been. I have tried numerous times in my life to be better at it but I am just not. I try to use my blog as a journal but I have noticed that I am very reserved about REALLY talking about what is going on some times. I started thinking about why and I was nervous about what people may think or really I just don't want to share what is going on with the whole world. It's just not my style. I have always had a very tight circle of friends around me that really know me and I guess that's what I decided I wanted my blog to be. So I deleted a bunch of people and those of you that are left are going to start getting the more authentic, mushy, deep thinker that I am. I have opinions and some pretty strong ones at that and some day when Jacoby reads through this blog aka my journal I want him to really know me not just have a chronological order of what we did while he was growing up. I want him to see what makes me me and where he came from and know that his Mama loves him so much even if she makes some mistakes.

Now that's a Fish!!!

Jarod was in Pensacola, Florida all week for work working hard as you can see. Just kidding. Anyway he went out deep sea fishing for the first time and had a great time. He caught 9 fish including this 18 lb. red snapper!! I think he is hooked and wants to go again. Did I mention that he wants to take me? Um, yea me and boats on the sea don't get along all that well. Benson's are witnesses to that or maybe it was just the dramamine??

Seriously how cool is that fish!! He said that it tasted amazing too!!

Mexico, Mexico, MEXICO

Before we left for Mexico, any time that we would talk about going Jacoby would start chanting Mexico, Mexico, MEXICO and then start singing Ole' ole' ole' from the Mexican soccer game we went to about a year ago. He has such an amazing memory. And then he would tell us that he was going to play in the water, run from the waves and drink pina coladas. Well we did all of that. Our last day there he found this cool water toy and had a blast driving around in it.

Typical Jacoby pointing his finger and telling me "Be right Back".

He had such a blast and was the best little boy. He keeps us all laughing. One morning when we woke up at 5:30 because he was so excited to go out and play in the water, we told him that it was too early to wake up and he needed to go back to sleep. He luckily did but an hour later was certain that now was the time to get up. So we told him that we had to play on the bed so he got his Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse that Grandma J brought for him and was playing with them. I was changing his diaper and Mickey Mouse kept sticking to his diaper tabs. I told him that he needed to move Mickey and he told Mickey Mouse with his finger pointed at him, "Mickey Mouse if I have to tell you one more time you are going to have to go to time out." I about fell over laughing. I wonder where he got that from??

I have never in my life spent the day at the pool but I can officially check that off my list now. One day, we hang out by the pool all day and it was perfect! I think I am going to do that more often.

It was such an amazing trip and I want to thank Mary and Jim so much for taking us to Mexico. This little boy- or baby as he likes to be called had the best time and so did we. Thank you for everything and thank you for loving my baby so much. It melts my heart whenever I am with you guys to watch you interact with him. He is so loved by all of you and I am so glad that you are a part of his life. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Just another day in paradise

One of the days we took the ferry over to a little island off the Mexican coast. Jacoby loved riding on the boat with Grandma J.

He was very interested in the blue water and the fish

We rented golf carts and drove around the island to check it all out. Jacoby loved to help drive. When we first stopped, he stood up and said "Hey guys! I'm helping Daddy drive!!" He was so proud of himself. He even fell asleep later with one hand on the steering wheel and one hand in my hair.

The beaches were beautiful and we got a couple of great shots. Jacoby is busy eating pretzels from our flight.

This is my life... running after my two year old. Either in the water or on land he is not picky.

I think this is a great pic of Grandpa J and Jacobes heading out for a swim. He loved swimming and running from the waves.

He just grins the entire time! While Jacoby was napping on the lounge chair we all took turns snorkeling. It was really cool and when Jacoby woke up we took him out there with us. He thought all the fish were so cool and kept making his fish faces and yelling out what colors they were.

All the Jostes'

Our little family and Mary and Connor got to Mexico on Saturday. Actually they surprised us in the Atlanta airport on our way to Cancun. I had one of those double take moments when I saw Connor smiling at me as I got off the plane. Jacoby was so excited!!! He ran right over to Grandma J and was so excited to see them. Jim and Collin didn't come until Monday because Collin was in a school play. Jacoby once again was excited to see them when they got to Mexico and wanted to show them everything. That night we went to dinner and I actually brought my camera.

This could be one of my favorite pictures of all times!! Jacoby never looks at the camera and if he does he certainly does not smile but I got one and I love it!

Jacoby was spoiled rotten the entire time we were in Mexico. He didn't even have to stay at the table, he took nightly walks with Grandma J and sometimes Grandpa J while we waited for our food.

Love this little boy to pieces!!

and then when our food came we had live entertainment which of course he loved.

After dinner, we would always go to the beach for a little stroll

Could he be any happier? This is how he was the entire time we were in Mexico. He loved it, loved playing in the water and it never hurts when you are the center of attention!

We had a room that was attached to Connor and Collin's room and every day Jacoby and Connor would knock on each others doors when the woke up and then Jacoby would go wake up Uncle Collin. He loves his uncles and I know the feeling is mutual.

Take a camera to the beach with these guys and this is what you get.

and I being the die hard photographer that I am laid on the sand the entire time capturing their tree climbing.

After our stroll on the beach every night we would visit the fire put before heading to our room for the night.

Our only group shot of the trip but it's a good one.