Celebrating Jace

Jace's 1st Birthday Party and Cookout

June 12, 2010

Friends and family gathered around to celebrate baby Jace. He had a monkey-themed party and we dined on BBQ that Adam smoked, baked beans, slaw, potato salad, chips, and cake of course. He was showered with gifts and love. The perfect punctuation to the end of his first year.

Mommy and Jace pre-party

Monkeys holding balloons decorated the tables.

Jace's monkey hat picture that inspired the theme sat in the foyer next to the goody bags (banana puffs for the little ones & barrels of monkeys for the older ones).

Feasting.

The cake (My friend and co-worker, Shey Laurin, made this).


My little monkey.

Not sure what to do. Wouldn't use his hands at first. A very timid start...

...but, he figured it out (Sugar rush! Squishing the icing in his hands.).

Want some? Quite the giver.


Jace's Guests (from left): Bryce, Anna, [Birthday Boy], Sam, and Tate.

Their families attended as well as Nana & Pop, Ghee & Grandaddy, Heath & Yeh-Yeh, Blake & Holly, Miss Shirley and Miss Melinda from Mother's Day Out, and of course Mommy, Daddy, and Bear

Opening gifts (after a quick bath--baby wipes just wouldn't suffice).

...and sugar CRASH! Poor baby Jace was done. He napped well.

Well rested and finally getting to play with his toys.

Thanks to everyone who helped make this day so special.

Jace 1 yr.

Jace turned one on June 10th. We went for his 1 yr check-up on on June 15th. He weighed in at a whopping (sarcasm) 20# 6.7 oz. and was 29" long(both close to the 25th percentile). He wears 12 month clothes and size 4 diapers. His failure to reach heavy weight status is not for lack of trying. He eats like a champ. Much more than his brother! He is not a picky eater right now. Likes everything but eggs, cottage cheese, and whole milk (having a hard time switching over from formula). His favorites are yogurt and fruit (peaches, bananas, strawberries, and blueberries). He has 4 teeth. He has 3 discernable words: Momma, Daddy, and hello. He mimics others, but nothing consistant and in context enough to call a word. He points to express needs. He stands alone in the middle of the floor, but no steps yet. Cruises, crawls, and climbs like a pro. Very busy, but still enjoys a good snuggle. Entertains himself well. Thinks he is grown. Mr. Independent. Wants to do everything himself. Very brave. Very observant. Will watch you demonstrate something a few times and then tries himself. Very much a boy--plays rough and tough. Loves balls. Beginning to really like music--dances to a tune. Loves water--cries when you get him out of the bath. Still cries when riding in the car, but this is much improved since he faces forward now. Doesn't care for long walks in the stroller. Doesn't care for his mommy leaving. Other than that he is quite the happy camper. It has been so fun to watch his personality evolve. This past year has been such a blessing and I look forward to many more years with joyful anticipation.

"These are a few of my favorite things..."

Loves to play with hats (and sunglasses).

kitchen cabinets--pots and pans and tupperware

the dishwasher

Phones (and tv remotes)--Did I mention one of his first words was "hello"? LOL.

Pray for Baby Sam

(baby Sam--so you have a face to your prayers)

Sam Turner is in the hospital with a persistent fever of unknown origin. He had to visit the ER during a family vacation last Friday and was admitted to the hospital Sunday when they got home and the fever had not broken. He is receiving fluids and antibiotics and they are trying to locate the source of the fever. He has not had much of an appetite either and some vomiting. Their best guess is that it may be a gastrointestinal virus of some sort. He finished up his last chemo treatment last week. Pray that his fever would break and he will begin eating well and make it over this last hump on his road to remission without any further problems. Pray also for Beth, Brandon, and big brother Brooks as they help care for him. Thank you for your continuing prayer for this family. God has truly blessed us with their friendship and love. Love~Haley

Great Aunt Sharon, Uncle Dave, and Cousin Alex

We have been blessed with an abundance of family who love us well. We get to see them much more seldom than we wish, but each visit is a real treat. We got to see Great Aunt Sharon, Uncle Dave, and Cousin Alex in TN mid-May up at Grandmother's. Here are some pictures from our visit:

"Awex" played endlessly with Barrett.

He even accompanied him on rides at the carnival.

He was asking for him for days.

Great Aunt Sharon taking pictures of Bear's funny faces.

He also enjoyed playing the lumpy couch game and reading a very improvised version of Bambi.

Sharon and baby Jace

Dave was a very patient hat model for Barrett :)

And...it goes without saying,

we always enjoy some time with Grandmother, her cooking, and her love and hospitality.

Thank you all for the love and memories!

Beach Trip 2010

We went on our first family vacation as a family of four at the beginning of May. We went to Panama City Beach. It was Jace's first beach trip and Barrett's 3rd. They both loved it. Barrett loved the sand most. He would get wet, go roll in the sand, and "wash off" in the ocean again....and again...and again :) Jace liked playing with the sunglasses, the sand pail and shovel, and the pool the best. It was great to get away. I am ready to go back already. Here are a few pictures:

Bear and Jace playing in the sand.

Bear Bear

baby Jace

sweetness

Barrett-isms

A few things Bear lately...

1) We were in Winchester to celebrate Adam's grandparents 60th wedding anniversary Easter weekend and Barrett was going to camp on a pallet with Ghee and Grandaddy. They were putting the sheets on and Barrett says, "Are those pink sheets?" Ghee or Grandaddy excitedly replied that they were, excited to see that he knew the color...only to have Barrett say he couldn't sleep on those because pink was for girls.

2)Another funny that happened while we were there was regarding Aunt Nellie's chocolate cake (the absolute greatest chocolate cake known to man). Last time we were there, Andrea (sis-in-law) and I finished it off before Aunt Holly got any. Holly brought down the cake and playfully said Andrea and I could not have any. I then took it from Holly. Andrea and I playfully fought over the cake. Then Barrett said he wanted some and Andrea ("Yeh-Yeh") facetiously told him no. He didn't understand that all this was in jest, and busted out in HUGE alligator tears. So sad, but really quite funny at the same time. We quickly gave him some cake and the tears dried up fairly quickly. Mean 'ole Yeh-Yeh!

3) Barrett has his first toy crush...He received a Woody and Bullseye (Woody's horse), from toy story 2, for his birthday and then we bought him Toy Story and the sequel when it came out on video. He is obsessed! I think Adam and I have Toy Story 2 memorized already! He used his b-day money to purchase Jessie, the cowgirl from the movie. Then, the Easter Bunny gave him a Buzz Lightyear figure and some Buzz PJ's. He wants to wear the PJ's every night and he sleeps with his "buddies" every night. He kisses them and hugs them goodnight and tucks them in their "sleeping bag" on the pillow next to him. So cute. They ride in the car with us and he plays with them each and every day. He shouts "yee-haw, Giddy-up, Cowboy" and "Ride like the wind, bozo (bullseye)" frequently. He also yells "to immimmimee (infinity) and beyond!" I wish you could hear the last one. Not sure if I captured it correctly, but it'll make you smile and laugh out loud.

4) The other day I picked up Bear from Mother's Day Out and one of his best little buddies, Maegan, gave him not only a hug, but a great big kiss goodbye. Wow! We ran into her at a restaurant the other night and she gave him a kiss and a hug then too. So I guess he already had his first kiss. That happened much sooner than I expected! They are too cute. They call Bear "Casanova" at MDO. Uh-oh!

5) We are venturing to the beach soon. To say Barrett is excited would be an understatement! He can't wait to "play in the sandbox with my shubbel (shovel)" and "swim like a fish." "Jace is gonna swim like a whale." I can't wait to see his little face light up. Hopefully his porcelain skin will not light up too much as well. I found some Buzz Lightyear swimming trunks on sale for $3 today and got them for him. He wanted to try them on as soon as he got home and it was an ordeal getting him to take them off.

I know there was one more funny thing lately, but I can't for the life of me remember it right now. I'll blog it when I do .

Jace's 9 month photo shoot

My friend and co-worker, Angela Bearden (Grace Owen Photography), shot some pics of Jace at 9 months. Here are a few of my favorites:

Angela purchased this monkey hat for baby pics.

Jace is NOT fond of hats, but we still managed to get a few good shots.

This one is my favorite. It just makes me smile; love this kid! I call this his bulldog face, but it looks like a monkey in this pic with the hat on.

We had to confine him to keep him from crawling off. He is pretty close to the spitting image of my dad's baby pics in this one.

Playing with the flowers/weeds. Discovered he is allergic to these and dandelions :) red, puffy eyes and runny nose soon followed.

my angel!