Arrgh!

We tried really hard to cheer the Hokies to victory but it just wasn't possible. Let's hope things go a little better in the weeks ahead! Meanwhile we'll nurse our sunburns - it was miserably hot in that stadium.

We had a great time though and got to spend some time with some really good friends. First we spent the afternoon and evening with Courtney and Brian and the most adorable Cooper!


















Getting two babies to look the same way at the same time was next to impossible...

















































Jack didn't seem to want to sleep much that night. He kept waking up and looking around. I'm pretty sure he knew Aunt Audrey was coming and he was just checking to see if she was there yet!

We also got to see the Weavers!! Jack thinks Tommy might be a little crazy. And he might be right! :)!

















For those that haven't had the pleasure of meeting them, they are really fun folks that have been some of my parent's best friends for as long as I can remember. They are pretty much my second set of parents and just great, great people. You should all meet them if you get the chance! Patti kept Jack at home while Kenny and I baked in the sun and cheered for the Hokies. Jack seemed to have a great time and we were thankful to have a little time alone and that Jack's fair skin was out of the sun! Patti and Jack cheered extra hard too but they couldn't seem to get through to the Hokies either. Jack did wear his maroon and orange proudly for a good 48 hours though. Next time I guess we'll have to up it to 72 hours? Jack told us that the Weavers did try to turn him into a Clemson fan while we were gone...but he knows he's a Hokie!

















Last night we tried really hard to cheer the Weaver's Tigers to victory too...but we didn't have any luck there either. 0 for 2. Not a good start to the season for football but a great weekend for us! Hope it was for all of you too!

Makin' music

Grams and Gramps brought Jack maracas from Mexico and he's turning into quite the musician!

Infection number 4

I should have taken the doctor seriously I guess when she said most kids have an average of 8 or 9 infections in their first year of daycare. Jack now has thrush. So, that's 2 colds (which led to ear infections and bronchiolitis) 1 pink eye virus that didn't cause a pink eye at all, and now thrush. Unfortunately all of that has been in the first 3 months. Let's hope things slow down...or we'll top 8 or 9 for sure.

As usual...he doesn't seem to mind at all. He's still his happy self - thank goodness for that!

Jack the lion cub

Grams and Gramps met another little lion on their travels in Cabos...



















He's super cute, isn't he? Not quite as cute as the REAL Jack...but close! We're so glad they are home, though quite envious...I want to see pirate ships and palm trees!

Fun with friends...

Jack spent time with some good friends this weekend...

Aunt Ansley


















Aunt Jen























And the beautiful Mary Alex


































We had some other great friends over too but the night flew past me and I failed to get pictures of them :(!

Today was cousin Emory's first day of 3rd grade! Sure hope it went well buddy! Tomorrow is cousin Ellie's first day of kindergarten! I don't know how that's possible but Ellie bean, I hope it's everything you've imagined it will be. Big hugs to Auntie Stephanie too as I know it will be so bittersweet for you. We love you guys!

Our new fun game...

We did this all weekend and it never got old...



Hope your Monday is a good one!

Look ma, TWO hands!

Jack mastered the fine motor skill of coordinating both hands to play with the same toy this week! He clearly takes after his father in this area since I am still often not coordinated enough to get both hands to do the same thing!

















Jack wants you all to see his favorite little lion toy! It is the perfect size for him and the edge is rubbery which makes for great chewing.

















We've got a big weekend planned around here. Last night Grandma came to play while Daddy and I ran errands (THANKS Grandma!) and this afternoon most of my very best friends will gather to celebrate Auntie Jen's birthday. We don't get together as often as we'd like anymore but that makes it even sweeter when we do. AND...Mary Alex is coming too! Yes, that's two weekends in a row folks, things are getting serious! After that, Grams and Gramps come home!!! They have been relaxing in Mexico and boy have we missed them! We can't wait to hear all about their adventures and Jack has been waiting so very patiently for his sombrero! Then Sunday we have more friends coming over for the office football draft! If we're lucky, Riley might come to play too!

Hope you all have a great weekend planned too and we hope the rain will stop in St. Augustine so Emory and Ellie can enjoy the last few days of summer vacation!

Take me out to the ballgame

Jack went to his first baseball game Sunday! We had a great afternoon with the Pearsons watching the Braves play before they leave town next month.



















He wasn't all that interested in the game at first...there's those hands again!



















And the tucked in lip...

















But after a short nap, he was really into it!
























Why aren't you watching the game Momma??
























Afterwards, we got to hang out with the Pearsons a little longer and Jack and Aunt Audrey had even more fun...

















Then Jack got to try on Uncle Eddie's hat. Uncle Eddie's big head makes Jack feel much better about his own...



















Thanks for another great day Uncle Eddie and Aunt Audrey!

What he's up to...

Jack's all about watching his hands and feet these days...

































He's also into grabbing for things. Whether that be toys...











































or Daddy's glasses...

















He also seems to like keeping his lower lip tucked in. Not sure what that's all about, but he sure likes it!
























He's so alert and really watches everything we do. Just taking it all in...

Sitting up

Jack's been working really hard at mastering the whole sitting up thing. He wants you all to know it's not as easy as it looks, but sporting maroon and orange gives him that little extra boost he needs.
























He still needs his hands for support and he still falls over from time to time, but we're getting close!
























I think he's practicing up to show off to his girlfriend Mary Alex tonight. They have a big play date planned that he's really looking forward to!

Jack's back!

So maybe it took almost a week for Jack to REALLY get over what the doctor seemed to think was a 24 hour stomach bug...but he's sure over it now! He's finally back to his happy inquisitive self...thank goodness!
























He's really figuring things out these days - it's really fascinating to watch. Growing SO fast and getting more and more hair on his little (ok, so maybe it's big!) head by the minute it seems.

I know he's really a Lion but we often call him monkey...and just the other day, we realized just how much he might just look like a monkey too...
















Hope you all are having a good week! It's almost OVER!

Just a few smiles

Jack's not felt great this weekend. Still not sure what's going on but he's not himself. Despite it though, he's still full of smiles...












































































Maybe he's just happy to have finally met his new friend Riley...



















Hope your weekend is smiley too!

Tummy aches

So both of my boys have been sick for the past few days. It's been really frustrating too because it's been a really busy week at work and it's a rather stressful time at work right now, and my heart has been completely preoccupied with how Kenny and Jack feel so yucky. But, I think things are looking up...I hope. Kenny's fever has broken and Jack has kept everything down for the last 8 hours or so. Cross your fingers that they will be feeling much better tomorrow...and that I don't get it!
Here's a little video that kind of sums up our week so far... (it's really been much, much worse but no one wants to see that!)

Big adventure

So we told you we were off to Steph and Matt's wedding this weekend in Steph's hometown of Grundy, Virginia. For those not familiar with Grundy, it's about 5.5 hours from Richmond in the corner of VA where it meets Kentucky and West Virginia. It's in the heart of coal country and nestled deep in the Appalachian mountains. It was a beautiful drive although nowhere near as beautiful as the bride herself...











































First we dropped Jack off in Giles County to stay with Aunt Kelly and Uncle Patrick and Cohen while we went to the wedding. They live on a gorgeous patch of land that made me realize just how much I miss the mountains.




















Sunday we had a nice morning with the Steele family before we headed out. Cohen kept Jack quite entertained with an original song about ducks...



















































































Then it was off to lunch with Dr. and Mrs. Claus before we left town. Dr. Claus taught me everything that I know about Microbiology as he was my graduate school advisor. I don't get to see him as often as I'd like, but every time that I do, I remember just how much I like him and how honored I am to also call he and his lovely wife, Marcella, my friends. They recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary...a great big CONGRATS to them!



















We took today off to get a few things done around the house...



















And now it's back to work and school tomorrow! Hope you all have a great week!