Dude, what did you just say?

The last week or so Jeremiah has started talking. Well, okay, maybe not actually talking but he's saying things that sound like words. I don't have video yet...but this is what he says if I listen very closely and try to put it into context.
"Ada" (Dada)
"Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm" (Milk)
"Odder" (Water)
"Wha Da" (What's that?)
"Awl" (Ball)
"Uh-oh" (I don't think you need the translation do you?)
Of course, no video...yet...but I'll try. Also, Shawn will say this list is incomplete as Jeremiah says many more words than this...but I can't understand him!! AND, do you notice what is missing???? MAMA has not entered his vocabulary, but I guess I can wait for the incessant "Mama? Mama? Mama? Mama? MAMA MAMA MAMA MAMA!!!!" stage of life with him.

J's latest entertainment is rearranging the kitchen chairs while wearing his cool-dude sunglasses. I say rock on!

This is what we call the post-breakfast breakfast. The child can be so hungry sometimes!

"The Mad Face" - he also snorts through his nose and I'm sure he doesn't realize how hilarious he looks and sounds.

One of his BFFs - the dust buster.

Where are my shoes?

Jeremiah has been having a fun time lately taking our shoes and 'hiding' them in the cabinets. He thinks it's hilarious. It is pretty funny, but I don't want to encourage him.

Today we went swimming with Bailey, Shanna, Kim and Lily (and Sydney and Payton). Here are some cute pics of the little ones:

Bailey's "cheese" face
Lily being adorable, as always.

And of course I'm a bit biased, but he looks so cute!

Just a couple of other shots from the weekend - here's J sitting in a chair and enjoying a few puffs.
J & Daddy relaxing before bedtime
Jeremiah has been quite obsessed with books. When I say obsessed, I really do mean obsessed. He brings a book to you and gets very happy when you sit him on your lap or next to you. Of course, he doesn't want you to actually read to him...he'd rather you just open the book and let him turn the pages. He loves to find pictures of balls and do the sign for 'ball.' It's fun. Today we read the same book five times in a row...but it's worth it!
Trying to put on Daddy's shoe.


Thanks to everyone for praying for Shawn during his test!! We both appreciate the prayers so much. Now...the waiting begins - it's about an eight week wait until we find out if he passed or not. Please pray those eight weeks go quickly for us!

Bailey's house!

Today J and I headed over to Bailey's house to hang out. Shanna is taking care of Erika Bird right now (please pray for her brother, Trevor and their family as they are going through some difficult times). The house was kind of crazy - but fun crazy, not scary crazy. :-)

Here is cutie Bailey
And the sweetest baby I believe I've ever met, Erika:
J and Erika look weirdly alike, especially when they both were running around in their diapers - that white skin and blonde hair - from the back I couldn't tell them apart!! (and in this pic, J has on the pink bib and Erika the blue, LOL!)
Erika laughing at Sydney and J entranced by Elmo on television
Gosh she looks like her father, don't you think?

Eating with a spoon like a big boy (sigh)
Forward facing and unamused...
Sleeping in previously mentioned forward-facing carseat.
Mmmmm!! Black beans!!

Happy birthday Shawn!!

One year ago today, Shawn worked all day and then came home and Jeremiah fell asleep on him. See here. This year was kind of similar, except he got a present that really made him happy...

He wasn't sure about the box - Versace? He was really skeptical.


His method is...interesting...


Yay!!


Carrie Underwood tickets!! Shawn is a big fan and his mom (who pitched in most of it) and I went in on them together. He is already very excited. Then he spent the rest of the day studying...which is why there hasn't been a blog in a whole week! Well, that and because our laptop is temporarily insane. So...just pray for Shawn this week and especially Friday and Saturday so his CFP (certified financial planner) test goes extremely well.

Today, to let Shawn study, we headed to the library:



These are all random pics from the week..

I love him in this basketball outfit - I remember when my mom gave it to me at my baby shower and it fits him now! Amazing and he looks like such a big boy in it!


Pickles are a vegetable, right?


Messy face!


Bath time!


Just a funny picture - obviously a little too close to the flash!

Jeremiah's birthday!

J's birthday was a looong celebration - lots of presents arrived all week. It was easier to make a slideshow than a massive post! I'm glad he's little and won't think this is how all birthdays are! :-)

12 month check up and pics!

Today we had J's appt to make sure he's on track for his age. Here are the stats: Weight: 19lbs 9.5oz - 10th percentile (Darn it - we were hoping for 20lbs so we could turn him around)
Height: 31 1/2"!!! - 90th percentile. So he's still tall and lean LOL!
He got three shots and I nearly cried - I am usually tough but today it got to me. He screamed big time and I had to hold him down - maybe that's why.

So...back to J's first birthday. We didn't do much - Shawn had his final class that weekend so he wasn't able to meet us for lunch or take the day off. So..in the morning J and I headed over to ABC cakes on Indian School Rd for some supplies. I'm no baker like Candie (did I spell that right, I'm sorry if I didn't!) but I am thinking (and hoping) that I can make a cupcake-cake for J's birthday. We'll see. Then it was lunchtime and I gave him a cup cake from his practice cake. This video is kind of long (3 mins) but he liked it ok, I think:
Then we went to the dollar store and I had to force him to stay awake til 112pm - when he was born. I took some pics and video: I am not a singer, so I apologize. He was not impressed at all, as you can tell. He really only wanted to go take a nap!

After his 2nd nap we headed to Fresh & Easy, a store he absolutely loves. His favorite worker is an Indian guy named Sudesh, I'm sure I'm spelling that wrong. But J just loves him - he points at him and expects him to come over and make conversation with him. At F&E we picked up some pizza for dinner and J played peekaboo with Shawn when he was done eating. It was so funny! So just an update on what J is able to do - obviously he walks, but also climbs or tries to climb on everything. He knows several signs: "more" "all done" "milk" "water" "dog" "elephant" "hat." He doesn't speak any words yet - Shawn says he said "Uh oh" in front of him but I haven't heard it. He has 7 (almost 8) teeth and we're just waiting for his molars to come in next. He is very funny and likes it when he does something to make Shawn, or I, or both of us laugh. He'll do it over and over again and laugh when we laugh. It's so fun!

Well...it's here. Happy 1st birthday, Jeremiah!!

I've been pretending like it wasn't coming all week but it's here and it's really not that bad. This morning it took me forever to get a slideshow together - I finally had to limit myself to two photos per month. But how do you capture your baby's first year in 24 photos? It was difficult.

God has used Jeremiah to teach Shawn and I so many things. First, that it is possible to love another human so much that there aren't words to describe it. Second, that no matter how much I love Jeremiah, that God loves him more - it is so overwhelming to even try to imagine that love. When I think about God sending Jesus to die for our sins, and then I think about sending Jeremiah on a similar mission...I selfishly couldn't do it. God loved US enough to send His Son...WOW.

(Stealing from Kristi here)
Dearest Jeremiah, I doubt you remember this but I'm the one who carried you in my body for 9 or so months. 12 months ago today, you decided to make your entrance into the world. At 112pm on 6/27/07, our world was completely rocked by you - coming into the world screaming and hollering and perfect. You had a conehead, you had a bent foot from it being shoved into my ribs, you were all purple but don't you know you were the most beautiful thing I had ever seen in my life?

The first three months were rough - you cried. A lot. I still remember - they say you forget but I sure haven't! We survived the acid reflux, the hospital stay for a seizure, RSV...all of that. Do you remember when I'd walk you to sleep for naps and for bedtime? I'm sure you don't. But I do. I'd play the same song on repeat over and over - funny that I don't remember what it is now, though. I would sing to you or pray silently for you...I'd think about things like what it would be like at your wedding and we danced the 'mother/son' dance. What you'd be like and if I'd remember holding you while we danced. I'd think about Mary, the mother of Jesus, and if she held you like I held you, what she felt like feeling her little baby's chest rise against hers and if she thought about how one day she'd have to let Him go.

One day I decided I couldn't walk you to sleep anymore and let you cry. It was hard, but so worth it! Now you put yourself to sleep and 'tell' us that you want to go to bed by going to the foot of the stairs. You have amazed me in more ways than you know and you're only a year old! Part of me is excited for the journey ahead of us - you growing up and becoming even more independent and moving away from me - and part of me yearns for that little baby that slept on my chest. Happy birthday, my little love!

FIRE!

Those of you in Phoenix have probably heard about the fire (or fires?) out here in Laveen. I see two distinct sets of smoke when I look and I just took these pics from our backyard.

That...dim thing? Is the sun. The smoke got thicker after I took this and the sun was completely gone. It smells.





As for not posting anything else this week...well, I'm still in denial. About what, you ask? Well...J's birthday is tomorrow. And I'm pretending like it's not happening. I really don't want my baby to turn one...at least not yet.

Edited to add more pics - we just ran to Walmart for a few things and guess what? It's RAINING ash. nice.

Ash on my car.


Pics from Baseline Rd - by the park (obviously)


This is by 43rd Avenue and Baseline - looks ugly!

Fun with Dza-Dza

(pronounced: Ja-Ja) AKA "Dad" came to visit Thursday through Sunday and we had some fun. Thursday we didn't do much, went to lunch with Shawn and hung out at home. (Actually Dza took a 3 hour nap while J only took a 45 minute on that afternoon...I think something got switched there!)

Friday was fun, we went to the Tempe Beach Splash pad.


Dza and J loved looking at the airplanes flying overhead.

Friday night we had pizza for dinner...so did J. He's got pizza, guacamole, yogurt and I'm not sure what else all over his face!


Saturday morning we headed to South Mountain to get the view of the city.




Like the hat? 99 cents @ the Mills Childrens Place. It's 6-12 months and it's too big on him...I'm sure by 2yrs it will fit though!


And there has been one big change around here.
Before:

After: