A.I. update

So the guys and girls have sung their hearts out again this week on American Idol. Let's see...for the guys (we decided to pick our top 6 guys and top 6 girls) 1. David Cook (the REAL rocker guy)
2. Cutie Pie 3. Michael Johns (the aussie) 4. Dreads 5. Robbie (the wanna-be rocker). So...we had a hard time picking 5 and couldn't come up with a 6th for the guys. For the girls...1. Carly (Irish rocker) 2. poofy haired black girl 3. Brooke (the nanny) 4. lil' Asian girl 5. 16 going on 17 6. Kady (impersonator) or tom-boy girl. There were a few girls that were harder to choose for us. Can't wait to see the results tomorrow night.

A day in the life of Jonas

Waking up is so hard to do!
Tummy time
Hanging out like a big boyNap time...maybe
Play time
Bath time

Lunch date!

Today we (Jonas and I)had lunch with some dear friends. We met when I had Fulton in Pre-K - I can't believe how much he has grown and matured this year. I LOVED having him in my class last year - he made me laugh every day - and some days that was a challenge (especially when I had morning sickness with being pregnant). Fulton loves The Polar Express, Thomas the train, peanut butter sandwiches, and his Pre-K teacher. :) His sister, Madeleine, is an Indian Princess, nature lover and likes Hannah Montana! I have really enjoyed my friendship with their mom, Jennifer. She is so fun and easy to talk with - she always has great advice and I always enjoy our time together. They were excited to meet Jonas today. We are already looking forward to our next lunch date!

Cousins

Tonight we had the privilege of watching our nephew, Colin. He LOVES his new cousin, Jonas. Every time he sees Jonas he makes cooing noises and pats his head. Colin enjoys putting his pacifier in for Jonas and holding him. Colin really likes holding Jonas and giving him gentle and not so gentle squeezes. At 19 months he is still learning about being gentle - but he knows a lot about love. It is so fun to have family live close and to see our kids interacting - creating new family memories.

The life of a dog

Since Jonas has come into our lives our original babies, the dogs, have taken a backseat to our time, love, and affection. I started feeling bad about this and decided to buy them each a bone for Valentines day to show them we really care. I mean, nothing says I love you like throwin' the dog a bone. So Scout, our boxer, gets her bone and immediately starts pacing around the house looking for a place to hide her bone. She isn't at all interested in lying down to chew on it. She starts pawing at the floor trying to bury it and then starts whining. So much for a nice quiet night with the dogs busy with their bones. We finally let her out and she immediately runs to bury it somewhere in the backyard. Oh, well...

First church experience

This was our first time back at church. Mallory was officially becoming a deacon and Jonas and I didn't want to miss it. He is 4 weeks old here and looking very hungry. In those first few weeks we didn't venture out too much.

Livin' in lavender luxury

Wow! So last night I gave Jonas a bath with this lavender baby wash. Everyone kept telling me that when you use that stuff babies will sleep so great. Well, I have tried it several other times and it hadn't worked - so I started using something different and bathing him during the day - until last night. I decided to give it a try again and voila! he slept for a little over 6 hours last night! So...I am a believer in the lavender stuff now and hope this magic potion continues to work on our lil' 7 and a half week old! I hadn't had that much sleep in a long time! We are going to have a great day!
This is an older picture of him - back when I tried the lavender magic before. He may look sleepy, but he is just putting on a show for the camera.

Valentines tulips

Mallory got me potted tulips this year for Valentines day! I am really excited about planting them and enjoying them again next year! Its the gift that keeps on giving!

A.I.

Season 7 of American Idol is upon us. So far my favorites for the guys - 1. Michael Johns (Aussie) 2. David Cook (rocker) 3. David Archulata (sp?) (cutie pie). I usually give them nicknames when I can't remember their names - although - surprisingly I remember the names of the ones I like - so far. My fav's for the girls...1. lil' asian girl 2. Carly (rocker) 3. poofy haired black girl. Ok those were my fav's tonight -but I also like Brooke (nanny) she is so cute, cool, and seems to be someone I would like to be friends with. I also like the Britney impersonator - but I thought the judges were right about her - she needs to show her personality more on stage. Everything may change next week! Who knows who will be my favorites as the competition continues.

Raw oysters

This weekend we went to dinner at the Boathouse with my dad, Susan, Sarah, Dustin, and Colin. Well they ordered raw oysters as an appetizer - Mallory and I had never had raw oysters before and we weren't feeling too brave - so we decided to go back and try them when they were half off (in case we didn't like them - we wouldn't feel like we were wasting our money on snot...I mean, oysters).
So...today happened to be half off raw oyster day. We went and tried them several different ways - slurping them up with cocktail sauce. On one Mallory put the oyster between two crackers - he doesn't recommend this because you actually have to chew to get it down...gulp!
Did we like them you might ask...well...let's just say, next time, we will probably try them steamed with cheese and bacon. :) It wasn't the taste that was so bad - it was the consistency! But I am pretty proud of us for being so adventurous.

Wine and dine

This weekend my dad and his fiance came for a visit. We had a great time wining and dining...
It was fun for us to meet Susan and it was fun for them to meet Jonas.
Family get togethers are so different now that there are babies again...everything takes a little longer and there are a lot of distractions - but it is so much fun!

ok, weird...

I realized it was a little weird to be talking about Christmas on Valentines Day. It was my attempt at a "back-post". I won't go back any further than Christmas.
We are having a WONDERFUL Valentines day. We have a beautiful baby boy to share our love with this year! I am so thankful for maternity leave. Jonas was born Dec. 29 - so I have had Christmas break then straight into maternity leave which has included my birthday and Valentines day. We couldn't have planned it better if we tried...God is good!
We went to one of my favorite restaurants in Chattanooga, Blue Plate, for lunch. We have decided that Valentines lunch is the way to go - no crowds! We just sat and relaxed and chatted about the things we appreciate about each other! It was fun! I will make dinner tonight for us and we will have a relaxing evening in - and let everyone else fight for a spot at the restaurants tonight. :)
I love all the flowers I have been getting lately. It makes the house feel like spring - even though the weather has been fickle. Mal got me potted tulips - they are so pretty and I am really excited that I can plant them outside and (hopefully) they will keep coming back every year.

Just the two of us...

We had a great Christmas this year! It wasn't the presents or the food (although Waffle House was pretty good) - but we had a sweet time together. Mallory read the story of our Savior's birth from the Bible, we had muffins and coffee, opened stockings and a couple of gifts for each other, then off to Waffle House for lunch. We chilled out for the rest of the day until big Mal came over to celebrate with us that evening. We were so excited for our baby to come and couldn't believe the time was so close.

in the beginning...

i have been reading some of my friend's blogs & decided it looked like too much fun. So i am going to give it a go...
i wish i had blogged about my pregnancy & jonas's birth earlier but i will post some back-blogs - if you will.