Jace Daniel Jostes

Big Brother Class

We took Jacoby to a big brother class at the hospital. He had so much fun and was so excited to be there. They each got a doll and learned how to hold it, burp it and feed it. They also watched a video about what to expect when the baby comes. He was so funny! First of all, when they asked him when his baby was coming he told them in January. Then they asked him if he was having a boy or a girl and he told them we were having a boy and a girl. Then he corrected himself and said it was a surprise. Then later the teacher asked them what the baby would eat. He raised his hand and told them Mama's milky and then from that moment on that was his answer to every question. Why does the baby cry? It wants Mama's milky and so on. It was pretty dang funny.

After the class was over we got to tour the hospital. He was very interested in where Mama and Daddy would be and asked in the labor room, "Well where will my Daddy sleep?". I was with him on that one but I guess they do on a chair. Lucky Daddy!

It was so much fun to take him and talk to him about being a big brother. I know that he is going to be amazing. I know that I will have the biggest helper in the world but I know that he loves his baby and could not be more excited.

First Snow in Cincinnati

Look what we woke up to on January 2!

It has been in the sixties here and has not cooled off yet. Though I am not missing Chicago's winters at all I was pretty excited to see the snow! Jacobes could not have been more excited and we got bundled up as soon as we got done eating breakfast and were out the door to play.

Or maybe put him to work! He drove his tractor in the snow for a while but then he wanted to help Daddy shovel and he took his job seriously. No time to pose for pictures while he was making his maze.

When he got cold, we went in and had hot chocolate and then went and ran some errands as soon as we got home he was back out playing. He loves having a yard and I love to watch him play!

A Sunbeam!

This little guy is officially in primary at church! I cannot believe it! Since his birthday is in December he is a very young sunbeam but one none the less. He was excited to go to his new class with all the big kids and have a new teacher who happens to be his Mama. I was so excited that I got to be there though to watch him on his first day. He was so dang cute! Our ward is very small and there are only about 10 kids in all of primary so everything is combined. The asked him to come up so they could welcome him in primary and he walked right up front and stood there while they sang to them. When they got done he said, "Thanks, that was very nice" and came and sat back next to me. He wanted to answer every question and usually his answer to everything was Jesus Christ. He volunteered for everything and just wanted to feel like he was part of it. It was so cute! He loved being with the big kids and was very good in primary as well as in our class. I really cannot believe he is old enough to be out of nursery but really lets be honest he never really went to nursery without me until we moved here and now he is in class with me.

Christmas in Ohio

Jacoby was so excited when he woke up on Christmas morning. He wanted to know if Santa had came so we told him he had to wait and we would go see. We ran downstairs and got the cameras ready and then we told him he could come down. He was a little cautious at first, actually I think he was pretty overwhelmed to begin with. He didn't know where to go first.

But it didn't take him long to check out all of his new toys. He got a tractor.

The train set that used to be his Daddy's and a scooter and table and chairs. Grandma and Grandpa J brought everything all the way from Denver.

While we were opening presents he suddenly remembered the snacks he left for Santa and the reindeer and ran over to see them. Santa loved his snack and Jacoby was really happy.

Then it was back to opening Christmas presents. Jacoby was really excited to give his Daddy the calendar we had made for him and I think he was even more excited to give me my present. Jarod let him pick it out all by himself. He asked him what my favorite thing was and Jacoby told him ice cream- he knows me too well! But since ice cream would have melted under the tree they got me a gift card to one of our favorite places here for ice cream. Then he told his daddy he wanted to get me some pants for when I had my tractions. Jarod took him to Target and let him pick out the perfect ones. First Jacoby wanted to bring me home lingerie because he thought they would look nice on me but then he spotted the perfect pair- Mickey Mouse jammies! He kept telling Jarod that they were perfect and I was going to love them. I do love them they are very cozy and remind me of my little boy every time I wear them.

After opening presents, the rest of them took off for our yearly traditional football game.

I was on the injured list this year but I did get a couple of funny shots before they left.

Jacoby trying to be just like Daddy. They had a great time playing football and brought home a very tired boy!

We had a traditional Christmas dinner and hung out the rest of the night.

The next day we went to the nature museum here in Cincinnati and had a great time.

The night of the 26th, I was up for a few hours having contractions and after dealing with them by myself for a few hours I woke up Jarod. We were up all night long with contractions. Later that morning we were making breakfast and Jarod went to open a jar and the entire thing broke in his hands. He cut his pinkie on his right hand really bad. I was standing next to him and he turned to show me with blood running down his hand and I lost it. Good thing his family was there to help take care of him because all I did was go to my room and cry. I was so overwhelmed with everything and just couldn't take one more thing. Poor Jarod had to go to the urgent room and get 7 stitches and his hand put in a splint.

We had made big plans to do a lot of stuff to get ready for the baby but with me being so pregnant and Jarod not being able to use his right hand we didn't get too much done. Luckily for us his family painted the nursery or else that wouldn't have gotten done.

Overall it was a nice Christmas. The best part was watching Jacoby and seeing how excited he was about everything. It was the best!

Christmas Eve 2011

This year for Christmas was our first time hosting. Since I was so pregnant and couldn't travel all of the Jostes' including Bentley came to us.

On Christmas eve, we went to a Catholic mass. Jacoby thought it was pretty interesting and was getting quite annoyed that we had to keep standing up when he wanted to play with his toys but he was a very good boy. Then we came home and had some chili.

Mary always buys him this little suits for Christmas and this year he loved having a tie on and the thought he looked pretty handsome.

Daddy wore this beautiful sweater to work earlier that week and one first place. He loved it so much he wanted to wear it again on Christmas Eve and yes, this is their new pose. We got these adorable Christmas jammies for Jacoby that he got to open up on Christmas eve. He was so excited that they had a reindeer on them.

As we were getting him ready for bed, he reminded us that we needed to leave a snack for Santa and the reindeer. We had completely forgotten. We let him pick out what he wanted to leave them and this is what we came up with. No traditional cookies and milk here. Nope, Santa got a salad, pickle, one piece of chocolate and since "Santa, LOOOOOVES egg nog" according to Jacoby he got some of that too. After I took these pics he also threw in more lettuce for the reindeer and some airplane cookies for Santa.

It was so funny!! What an amazing combination! I had to laugh that he thought Santa needed a salad. Then Jarod and I took him to our room with the Christmas lights on and read all of our Christmas books before he went to bed. He was so excited and kept telling us that he needed to go to sleep so Santa could come.

Train to North Pole

Last year we took a train to the North Pole and it was so much fun that we decided that it is going to be our yearly Christmas tradition and this year Jacoby loved it even more!

He talked about it for days before and days after. It was definitely one of our highlights this Christmas. We drove up to Lebanon, Ohio and took a train from Lebanon to Mason. It was about a 30 minute train ride.

He loved watching out the windows and making all of his train noises. For most of the ride he was the conductor and kept saying, "All aboard- choo, choo."

He was so excited to see Santa!

When we got there they had a little North Pole area set up with a building for coloring some Christmas decorations as well as a little house where Santa was.

They also had hot cocoa and cookies. Jacoby called it hot chocolate before this trip but since watching the Polar Express as well as hearing Santa say hot cocoa, it's hot cocoa now. Just ask him.

He was so cute with Santa. He ran right in and gave him a big hug. Then he told him that he was a really good boy and that he wanted a train for Christmas. Santa asked him a few other questions and he answered him but he was a little distracted by Mrs. Claus sitting next to them.

But Mrs. Claus gave him a big bell ornament and then he was back to talking up a storm to both of them.

He loved seeing Santa! It was so much fun to take him this year and watch him. I have always loved Christmas but it is so much fun when they start getting it and it was so much fun to relive Christmas through him this year.

As soon as we got home, he hung his bell on the Christmas tree and anyone who came over he showed the bell to them and told them that the sound would help the reindeer find our house on Christmas Eve.