jack and Caroline

This Kid Loves to Dance...

2011-01-04T10:19:00.000-08:00

And so does his sister...

Soccer Sharks!

2010-03-19T20:25:00.001-07:00

Jack has started soccer this spring and I think he's really enjoying it. He is a Maroon Shark and on a team with mainly 5 year olds (so they are pretty good).

Random Photos

2010-03-19T19:41:00.000-07:00

Caroline LOVES stickers!! Somehow she started putting them on the refrigerator and so now we have quite a collection. Initially she put them directly on the fridge and after the first round and several bottles of Goo Gone later, my mom suggested putting cling wrap down before the stickers which has worked wonders. So, if you're ever wondering what to send our sweet girl, stickers are always a good choice.

Jack got a new haircut a couple weeks ago. I think it makes him look so much older.

Juice boxes and nice weather make life better.

Caroline and her friend Evie. She was trying really hard to get Evie's toys.

Snow!!

2010-02-12T13:12:00.000-08:00

It doesn't happen often, but we actually had some snow in Texas yesterday so despite illness, I let the kids bundle up and go outside for a brief time period. They both loved it!! Wish they were feeling better so they could have stayed out longer. Maybe next time...

Random Videos

2010-02-12T13:08:00.000-08:00

Friends

2010-02-12T13:00:00.001-08:00

Watching baby Selah.

Watching the Superbowl with friends.

Randomness Since December

2010-02-12T12:54:00.000-08:00

Working on birthday cards for Lainee and Grandma.

Throwing a fit in the dirt.

Posing with mom, the new brunette.

Ponytails!!

The fellas

Nashville for Christmas

2010-02-12T12:50:00.001-08:00

We met Nathan's family in Nashville for Christmas this year. We had a great time hanging out together and watching the kids go crazy over all the presents.

Santa Visits

2010-02-12T12:41:00.000-08:00

The kids got a lot of 'recycled toys' this Christmas...but it didn't seem to change their love for the 'new' stuff one bit.

Scooter King

2009-12-21T17:00:00.000-08:00

Jack got a scooter for his birthday so he's been busy testing it out. It's been a little chilly outside so we've spent most of the time riding it in the garage but he still really likes it. I read a lot of reviews on these scooters prior to shelling out the money and I have to honestly say that they are pretty great and worth the money.

Jack Turns Four

2009-12-21T16:31:00.001-08:00

Jack celebrated his fourth birthday last week. It was an exciting weekend. We had a superhero birthday party on Sunday with some of his friends and had a great time. Thankfully my parents were here to help me get things together. I was probably more ambitious because they were around to help. At the party we made capes, bowled for villains, saved the city from falling rocks (black balloons), survived a difficult obstacle course, and testing our web spinning abilities (silly string fight). Of course, there was also cake and ice cream and presents. I took a lot of ideas from this site. I love the internet! Anyway, it was actually a lot of fun for me and I was happy to have a creative outlet.

Pancakes with Santa

2009-12-21T16:18:00.001-08:00

Caroline was apprehensive about talking with Rudolph but she was much braver than Jack (who was standing so far away you can't even see him in this picture).

One of the local churches in our area had a morning where you could come and eat pancakes and meet Santa for $5 (yes, for the entire family). It was great. Lots of food and they even had crafts and games for the kids to play after they were finished. We didn't meet Santa because the line was too long and wasn't moving very fast but it wasn't a wasted trip, either.

Thanksgiving in Missouri: Part 1

2009-12-04T18:02:00.001-08:00

Caroline with Grandma and Walker

Caroline and Aunt Lainee

All the cousins getting ready to decorate Christmas cookies.

Christmas cookie decorating.

For Thanksgiving, we packed up the mini-van and headed to Missouri. It was a long 10-hour ride but worth getting to see my folks and sisters. Since we are spending Christmas with Nathan's family we also went ahead and opened gifts together. All the kids had a great time and did fairly well getting along with one another. On Friday the ladies hit the Black Friday sales (minus Caroline - although I'm sure she could have wrestled away whatever she wanted since she gets lots of practice doing that to her older brother). I know this post's pictures are heavy with Caroline photos but I promise it is only because my son refuses to get his picture taken. I try to keep it fair.

Thanksgiving in Missouri: Part 2

2009-12-04T17:52:00.000-08:00

Caroline appearing to decorate herself more than the cookies.

She wasn't ready to give up yet.

Opening presents with my family.

A rare family picture with all of us actually looking at the camera. Notice how happy Jack looks. Ha. Well, it was almost perfect.

Science Museum

2009-12-04T17:38:00.001-08:00

Jack and Lily heading into the children's museum.

Caroline posing for a picture.

Shooting waterguns outside.

Really cool dinosaur slide in the gift shop. Yes, they know how to lure you in.

Jack and Lily figuring out the cool wind tunnel.

A few weeks ago we met up with our friends Lily and Ashley to check out the newly improved Science Museum. We had a great time. And since it was the grand re-opening we got in for FREE! Can't beat that. Even Caroline had fun exploring all their 'pretend play' centers. At one point she was wearing a tutu and playing amongst the fellas in the 'train' section. I guess that's what happens when you have an older brother. Anyway, I highly recommend the place. Lots of fun. We are hoping to use some of our Christmas money to buy a family membership. I think when the cold weather hits it will be a great place to hang out indoors.

Racing

2009-12-04T17:27:00.001-08:00

One of Jack's favorite things to do is race his sister in the driveway. He has figured out it is pretty easy to win so I think that fuels his competitive spirit. In a few years, though, I have a feeling his sweet little sister will give him a run for his money.

Halloween

2009-11-10T21:06:00.001-08:00

Heading out to trick-or-treat. Note the bee's wings are upside down.

My two dangerous creatures prior to hitting up houses for treats.

For Halloween, we spent the evening with my sister and her boyfriend and our good friends. We trick-or-treated in a great neighborhood before heading back to their house for some great paella. Jack actually wore his costume this year, too, which was a nice change from years past.

Trunk or Treat

2009-10-25T18:03:00.001-07:00

Jack was trying to look scary in each of these shots.

My little wingless bumblebee.

So, in preparation for Halloween next week we had a trial run at the local 'trunk or treat' event. It was a lot of fun but there were a ton of people out and I think Jack was a little overwhelmed. It was also kind of warm so I'm hoping on Halloween it will cool off a bit so my children don't melt in their costumes.

Circus

2009-10-25T17:58:00.001-07:00

Whitney and Hayden

Jack and Hayden checking out the elephants.

Having fun after the show.

The circus was in town a couple weeks ago and they were nice enough to have a night honoring teachers so teachers and their family members were admitted for free. Jack and I and some friends of ours took advantage of the free tickets and had a wonderful time. The boys loved the clowns, tigers, and baby elephant. I couldn't get over the daredevil stunts. I really forgot how terrifying the circus can be.

Walking!!

2009-10-25T17:47:00.000-07:00

Caroline started walking the last week of September so she's pretty good at it now. This video was taken two weeks after she started and she had already made significant progress. Now, she's pretty much running to try and keep up with Jack.

Just So Cute

2009-10-25T17:45:00.001-07:00

Some pictures are just too sweet not to post... our sweet girl is growing so fast!

Pumpkin Patch

2009-10-25T17:36:00.000-07:00

In the corn maze...

Again, I apologize for not updating the blog sooner. It has been a busy fall. We did have the opportunity the first weekend in October to go to a local pumpkin patch. We had a lot of fun and even tackled the corn maze (I was only worried for a brief moment that we wouldn't find our way out). Thanks to the cooler weather it actually kind of felt like fall and we needed jackets (it is rare here that you need anything other than short sleeves).

Loving Our Shades

2009-09-10T20:20:00.000-07:00

My kids love their shades. Caroline will just crawl around with them on periodically throughout the day. It is so silly. I love these silly kids.

Caroline's Favorite Book

2009-09-10T20:14:00.000-07:00

Caroline loves this book about animals. Normally she'll mimic all the noises but she wasn't up to showing her tricks off for the camera. I still think the 'baa' and 'moo' are pretty cute, though.

Kick Off of College Football

2009-09-10T20:11:00.000-07:00

Giving some love to the SEC...

First Day of School

2009-09-10T20:06:00.000-07:00

Jack and Caroline started school on September 1. The are going to a Mother's Day Out program on Tuesdays and Thursdays this year. It is the same program Jack attended when he was Caroline's age. Both of them were excited to be somewhere new and neither one shed any tears when I dropped them off.

Happy Birthday Song

2009-08-19T08:34:00.000-07:00

Caroline's First Birthday

2009-08-19T08:23:00.001-07:00

The Birthday Girl!!

Enjoying her cupcake (she looks pretty clean here)

Caroline and Hannah

Caroline, Lily, and Jack playin' some tunes.

Opening presents...

So, Caroline turned ONE yesterday. I can't believe it's already been a year. Time has gone so fast. She is the sweetest little girl. She is always so happy and loves to dance, laugh, and smile. We are so thankful for the opportunity to be her parents.

Things she currently loves: Mirrors, Jewelry (on other people), Dancing, Jack, Eating

Things she does not like: Naps and her carseat or any time of restraint (she's an active girl)

She's still not walking but she does cruise all over the place and crawls when she wants to get somewhere quickly. She's a climber and I am always finding her on the fireplace, train table, etc. She says 'hi' but that's really the only word I can understand at this point. We'll go to the doctor for her first year checkup next week so I'll have stats then.

My Family Loves to Dance

2009-08-19T08:19:00.000-07:00

Caroline, along with the rest of my family, seems to enjoy dancing.

Family Picture

2009-08-19T08:17:00.000-07:00

Mazatlan

2009-08-19T08:09:00.001-07:00

Jack did a great job of making friends despite the language barrier.

Excited about the aquarium.

Being silly by the pool.

We had a great trip to Mazatlan the first part of August. My parents were originally supposed to go with us; however, because of my dad's health they weren't able to go. My mom really wanted to keep Caroline while we traveled so we sent her to Missouri before we headed to Mexico. We had a lot of fun on the beach and in the pool and we were able to spend some quality time with my sister and her boyfriend, Barrett. When we got back, Caroline was officially spoiled so we had a few days of 'Grandma Detox' to get through. :)

Spaghetti and Other Adventures

2009-07-23T12:24:00.000-07:00

Making bug and 'Jack' cookies. Does this kid look like he could use more sugar?

Jack's really into building tall towers. But the best part is after it's done he wants to knock them down.

Caroline will not let you help her eat. She only wants grown up food and she only wants to feed herself. This was a result of her self-feeding spaghetti yesterday. It was messy but I think she liked it.

Trip to Pittsburgh

2009-07-23T12:11:00.003-07:00

Crawling around the airport waiting for our flight.

Saying goodbye to Papa and Nana.

We visited Nathan's folks in Pittsburgh the first part of July. It was a nice break from the 100+ degree Texas temperatures. We went several places while we were in town but I think Jack's favorite spot was Idlewild. It's an amusement part designed for younger kids; however, he only wanted to ride the 'bigger' people rides. He loved the log ride and then we couldn't get him off the roller coaster. Who knew my cautious kid would have that much fun on a roller coaster?

Summer Fun

2009-07-23T11:44:00.000-07:00

I have been so bad about updating the blog. Facebook has become so much easier I find it's difficult keeping up with both. We have had a busy summer. So far we've been to Memphis, Missouri, Pittsburgh, and Houston. We have one more trip scheduled for Mexico in two weeks. We are so excited. Caroline has done great traveling. Her plane trip to Pittsburgh was wonderful. She charmed the flight attendants and travelers sitting next to her and played with her brother and his toy cars for most of the flight. It's crazy to think in another month she will be a year old. She's standing up and cruising like crazy but not walking yet. She does love to climb up on tables, chairs and fireplaces. The girl is definately going to be active. Jack and I have had fun this summer, too. The pictures above show him practicing writing his letters in shaving cream. He does pretty well with the letters 'o', 'c', 'h' and 'j'. But the others are still pretty difficult. He's also started swimming lessons which is finally giving him some confidence in the water. His vocabulary is amazing and it has been fun to watch him test out new combinations of words (funny example: I'm going to kick you in the smell box). He has found an increased love of dance, probably due to the fact that we watch 'So You Think You Can Dance' together on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Both of them are doing great. It will be sad to see the summer come to an end.

Brothers and Sisters

2009-07-06T08:03:00.000-07:00

Jack and Caroline have had a good time together this month. More and more I am seeing Jack making attempts to play with her. It's cute and encouraging. He's also great about sharing with her (note popsicle picture above). We currently have some friends who are expecting and when we asked Jack if he wanted them to have a boy or a girl he said "I just want them to have a baby who talks". So, I think he's ready for Caroline to be able to walk and talk. Hopefully it won't be much longer!

Memphis

2009-06-09T18:36:00.001-07:00

We headed to Memphis this past weekend for a wedding and had a nice time catching up with Nathan's family. The kids were worn out when we came back home. Jack fell asleep on Sunday night at 5 p.m. and slept through the night. Entertaining everyone apparently wore him out. Caroline's first plane ride was a little rough, but she was also getting a top tooth while we were there (perfect timing). We survived and are now looking forward the trip #2 of the summer with my family.

Standing Tall

2009-05-15T10:14:00.001-07:00

Caroline is pulling up. And now that's all she wants to do. She is a determined little girl and I predict that she will walk soon. I could be wrong but she seems pretty motivated to want to keep up with that older brother of hers. She's still army crawling everywhere but she definately moves quickly. I'm not sure how I'm going to keep up with both of them when she's finally completely mobile. Those days are quickly approaching!!

Two Little Monkeys

2009-05-15T10:05:00.000-07:00

Jack loves to get in the crib with Caroline.

Here we are getting ready to release our butterflies. We had 5 that flew off to find new homes.

Once they were gone Jack said he wanted more butterflies.

Caroline loves strawberries. Jack loves making up phone conversations. Both are witnessed on this video.

Zoo Members

2009-04-27T14:00:00.000-07:00

We recently purchased season passes to the zoo. We love the zoo in our area and can't wait to spend some time there this summer.

Enjoying Nature

2009-04-27T13:54:00.000-07:00

Nathan was so excited to see a jalapeno growing in his garden.

Our butterfly larvae.

They all formed chrysalides in the cup.

The chrysalides in their new habitat.

We have been enjoying spring and time outdoors. Nathan has planted a garden this year and is anxiously awaiting the arrival of peppers, squash, tomatoes, cilantro, and pumpkins. Jack and I have been busy watching the life cycle of the Painted Lady butterflies we ordered. They are currently chrysalides and we are waiting for them to transform into butterflies. Should be any day now.

Army Crawl

2009-04-06T13:08:00.000-07:00

Caroline is finally able to get around. She has been trying so hard for the past few weeks and did a really great job of moving backwards...which only frustrated her even more. She loves being able to move across the floor. I have realized, however, that it is harder to baby proof things with a three-year-old sibling leaving snacks and small toys everywhere.

Preparing for Easter

2009-04-06T12:44:00.000-07:00

Caroline looks really fascinated with the egg decorating, doesn't she?

What a goofball. Notice the color stained hands...

Easter egg hunt. Jack missed the preschool hunt so he was up against the big kids.

Caroline watching the egg hunt. It was windy and her mom is paranoid about ear infections so she had to wear her hat.

Oh my creative child!

Jack's First Soccer Game

2009-03-25T06:48:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

It was a big day last Saturday as Jack had his first soccer game. He did pretty well. They actually played games/drills for about forty minutes and then had a small game during the last twenty minutes. Jack did great until about the last ten minutes when I think he just was too tired. He had a lot of fun and didn't cry the whole time (like some kids)...so I was proud.

Passport Picture

2009-03-25T06:44:00.001-07:00

Even though it's a passport picture, I thought it was too cute not to post. This summer we are going to Mexico with Grandma and Grandpa so we had to get Caroline's passport application turned in. We actually took the picture at home and then used a nifty online program www.epassportphoto.com to get it to the correct specifications. When we were finished we sent the file online to Walgreens where it was printed in less than an hour for only $0.19. I saved $8.00. I love technology!

Grandma and Grandpa's Visit

2009-03-25T06:38:00.000-07:00

Grandma and Grandpa came down for a visit a few weeks ago and unfortunately we didn't take many pictures. I think we were too busy outside enjoying the nice weather.

Action Jackson

2009-03-01T18:07:00.000-08:00

Random Pictures

2009-02-23T19:41:00.000-08:00

Our chubby, smiley girl!

This picture is for Nana and Papaw

Dad and the kids

Jack wearing his cool soccer jersey Nana purchased in Italy.

Feeling Young Again

2009-02-23T19:38:00.001-08:00

Today I was feeding Caroline her oatmeal when I noticed Jack had gotten really quiet in the back of the house. Upon investigation, I found him like this. He had crawled up in Caroline's crib with Henry and was sucking his thumb with his eyes closed. Guess sometimes we just wanna feel young again. (And as a side note, Jack's not wearing pants in a lot of these pictures because he's a champ at peeing in the potty these days. We've found pants just get in the way.)

Bad Hair Day

2009-02-23T18:24:00.001-08:00

Top Chef

2009-02-23T18:17:00.001-08:00

I asked Jack what he was making. He said hot dogs and broccoli. He used 67 different cooking utensils, some popcorn and the glass of tea I left on the counter. It was delicious.

Jack at Play

2009-01-29T18:56:00.000-08:00

Jack sitting in the drawer of his train table. He actually came up with this spot on his own. Pretty creative kid. I'm just glad the drawer didn't fall out and scare him to death.

So, we splurged and bought a bounce house (thank you, Craigslist). My parents had borrowed one over Christmas break for the grandkids to use and it was just the perfect size to fit in the garage. The boys loved it. When we came back to Texas I just kind of kept my eyes open for a bargain and when I found one, we snatched it up. Jack loves the thing and spends most mornings and afternoons out there jumping. I love that it wears him out.

Five Month Milestones

2009-01-29T18:46:00.000-08:00

Moving up to the big girl carseat. (We just moved Jack up and then put a new cover on the Marathon.)

I love this picture because she looks like a food addict who was caught in the act.

She loves eating her rice cereal - but I'm not sure how much actually makes it in her stomach.

Sitting up like a big girl.

Caroline is 5 months! It's hard to believe. She has now moved up to the big girl carseat. She's eating rice cereal and she's sitting on her own. She's also sleeping like a big girl, too - which we love!! She usually goes to bed around 7 p.m. and sleeps until 6:30 a.m.. She giggles and smiles all the time and I think the spitting up has actually decreased some. We love our beautiful girl!

Jack and Lily

2009-01-29T18:21:00.001-08:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

For those who don't know, I have someone who comes and helps with the kids three mornings each week. Her name is Ashley and she's fantastic. She a mom of two kids and actually brings her 3-year-old daughter Lily with her so Jack has someone to play with. Jack loves these mornings. It has been such a good fit for our family. Anyway, one morning her mother was in town so they took Jack and Lily to the zoo. Jack had so much fun with Lily, Ashley and Grammy.

My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys

2009-01-28T17:50:00.000-08:00

If you know anything about our family, you know how into horses and cowboys we are. We even have matching chaps and spurs that we wear when we go out every second Saturday of the month. So it should come as no surprise that when the Fort Worth Stock Show kicked off their event with a parade, we were there.

The parade was good...for the first hour. Then we all slowly started to melt down. Caroline was first, then Jack, then me, then Lynsi (she's a rock). I looked down the road and didn't see the end in sight. Just a sea of horses and wagons and cowboy hats, oh my. It wouldn't have been a big deal but we were on one side of the road and our car was on the other and there weren't many breaks in the procession of every horse, donkey, and cow-drawn-carriage in North Texas, so we couldn't cross the street.

We ended up watching the parade from inside Jamba Juice, the only place that sold food in the vicinity. We had smoothies, organic chips, one tasteless muffin and two free samples of oatmeal. That's the lunch of true cowboys.

After nearly two hours, in a bold desperate move, we darted across the street in between a second-rate high school marching band playing My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys and a group of Mexican Vaqueros wearing matching sombreros, and headed for the mini-van.

Funny Jack Commentary

2009-01-04T12:42:00.000-08:00

(Lunch time. Jack and Nathan are sitting at the table eating. I am in my office working and overhearing their conversation.)

Jack: Hey Dad, I have a good idea. (This is his new line to say.)

Nathan: What is it Jack?

Jack: How bout after we eat lunch we go to Pittsburgh? Would that be a deal? (Pittsburgh is where Nana and Papa live.)

Nathan: Well, Jack, Pittsburgh is kind of far. I think we have to take a nap instead.

Jack: Well, okay.

The Caped Crusader

2009-01-04T12:34:00.001-08:00

For those who don't remember, Jack really wanted to be Batman for Halloween. So, I found him a costume (actually pajamas) and bought his sister a Wonder Woman costume and was ready for the big event. Well, Jack would have nothing to do with his costume once the big day came. He did NOT want to put it on. So, we went trick-o-treating in jeans and a t-shirt. Even among other friends who were dressed in costume, Jack still showed no interest in wearing his Batman gear. We didn't force it just put the costume in a drawer in case he ever changed his mind. Well a couple weeks ago the girl who watches Jack and Caroline arrived with her daughter who was dressed as a princess. Immediately Jack asked for his Batman costume. I got it out of the drawer and told Ashley, our sitter, that he probably wouldn't wear it. I was wrong. He immediately put it on and said he was playing 'superheroes'. Now, we have to hide it from him to keep him from wearing it 24/7. On our way to Missouri, we stopped at a gas station and I laughed as Nathan and Jack went inside to buy some snacks because he had on a pair of Christmas pajama pants and his Batman shirt (with cape trailing in the wind). Guess he just had to decide on his own he wanted to wear the thing. Funny kid.

Christmas Break

2009-01-04T12:27:00.001-08:00

Jack playing with one of his Christmas presents. He owns the road... (or driveway)

Just a sweet picture of Jack playing with his trains. He has still not outgrown Thomas.

Caroline playing with her Christmas present. She's still not sure what to think of it.

Caroline and Hannah hanging out.

Jack and Hayden hanging out (girls play different than boys)

We've been enjoying the last few days of Christmas break before Nathan starts back to school. I've been busy organizing and finding spaces for all the new toys and clothes. It's still amazing to me how much STUFF we collect having two kids.

Christmas in Missouri

2009-01-03T20:03:00.000-08:00

Our sweet happy little girl.

It was cold in Missouri so we couldn't leave the house without our hat.

Jack found a friend in Franklin.

Cousin bonding time.

Caroline and Aunt Lainee

Cousins on Christmas Eve (nice expression, Jack)

Mr. Sunshine

So, for Christmas we went to my folks' house in Missouri. Had a great time. Spent about 10 days there. It was so nice to be around family. I have more pictures of this festive time; however, these are the ones I hijacked from my sister's camera. Thanks, Lainee.

Birthday with the Cousins

2009-01-03T20:00:00.001-08:00

Decorating Christmas cookies with Wyatt and Walker. Jack quickly finished 'decorating' and moved on to 'eating'.

Birthday cake number....I don't know I lost count. But it was still really good.

Four months old

2008-12-18T12:04:00.000-08:00

Well, Caroline went to her 4 month check up this morning. We found out she currently weighs 16 lbs 1 oz and is 26 inches long. She's still around the 95 percentile in both weight and height. I love all her little rolls. Anyway, she's has TWO new teeth (both bottom middle) that have just popping through the gums over the past two weeks. It amazed me when I felt the first one since Jack didn't get his first tooth until he was 6 months. She's sleeping better and is overall a really sweet little baby.

Life with a 3 year old

2008-12-18T11:57:00.000-08:00

While I was working the other day, I noticed that the house was extremely quiet so I thought "hmmmm... why is Jack so quiet?" When I went to go check on him I found him in the bathroom, standing up on his stepstool looking in the mirror and drawing on himself. He was covered in green crayon. While you only see the green crayon on his face, it was actually everywhere - even his stomach and on the back of his neck. I have no idea how he got it back there. Luckily it did wash off but it left his skin with a tinge of green for a few days. Crazy kid.

Our boy is a genius. He did this alone while I was getting ready one morning. I was amazed to come out and see this put together without my help.

Random picture of Caroline. She keeps scratching her poor little face despite my attempts to keep her fingernails short. This picture makes her look kind of serious, but really she is such a cheeseball.

Three Years Old

2008-12-18T11:44:00.000-08:00

He's concentrating really hard on blowing his candles out.

Well, Jack is officially 3 years old. His birthday was actually last Sunday but I'm just getting around to posting. It's crazy that he's already three. Seems like just yesterday we were walking around Bangkok waiting for him to make his arrival. We had a 'low key' celebration - as the plan is to eventually go to a 1/2 year birthday party (since that would be in June versus December). Jack received all kinds of goodies. I'm not sure if our gifts to him were among his favorites (a new carseat and a portable potty) but you wouldn't know it gauging from his expressions as he opened each gift. This kid loves presents.

A few of his favorite things to do these days (as a three year old): Read books (always), Tell stories (if you start telling him made up stories he will say 'one more' until you cut him off), Play with his toys making up conversations between them, Puppet shows, Puzzles, Hide and Seek (although he's always a little too scared to come find you by himself), and Swinging outside. A few of the things he dislikes: Wearing a jacket/coat, Bedtime, and letting Henry take a bath (in the washing machine).

My Beautiful Children

2008-12-03T21:17:00.001-08:00

Jack has really been into wanting to hold Caroline lately. I thought these few shots were really precious.

Thanksgiving Road Trip Part 2

2008-12-03T21:04:00.001-08:00

Celebrating the 3 December Birthdays (Mike, Nana, and Jack)

Denise and Caroline

Would it be Thanksgiving without Mexican food?

Nathan, Jack, Denise, and Nick

Mike, Nathan and Jack

Papaw, Caroline, Nathan, Jack and Nana (Papaw did a great job coaxing Caroline to sleep - as you can see)

It was hard to pack up and leave when the week was over. It's so nice to be around family these days. Caroline hasn't been sleeping as well as she did on the trip (think the entertainment wore her out) and Jack keeps asking when we're going to go on another trip. Thanks for the great fun and the gifts!! We really had a wonderful time.

Thanksgiving Road Trip Part 1

2008-12-03T20:51:00.001-08:00

Caroline wasn't used to the cold weather.

Jack fought the wearing of this blue parka (he hates coats) but realized quickly that it was necessary once we were inside the display.

Jack actually looking happy in this picture. Not sure how long this smile lasted... maybe 2 minutes??

The cool Aquarium restaurant in the mall. This was a bigger hit than Grinch's Who-ville. This girl and Jack were discussing which fish was which character from Nemo.

And of course mall Carousels are always entertaining.

So, for Thanksgiving we met Nathan's family in Nashville for BirThanksMas (Birthdays/Thanksgiving/Christmas). We had a great time hanging out and seeing a few of the sights. We went to see the Grinch's Who-ville which was made entirely of ice. It was literally 9 degrees inside the building that housed the ice sculptures. They gave us parkas which turned out to be a nightmare since Jack has a huge coat aversion. So, he basically screamed the entire time. He did think it was cool for about 5 minutes and then he became too cold and was grumpy again. A bigger hit for him was the Aquarium restaurant we found in the mall. Lots of salt water fish/creatures and a place where you could pet/feed stingrays. This was more his speed.

Visit from Nana

2008-12-03T20:42:00.000-08:00

He was so excited about seeing Nana.

Our little girl (who I think looks a bit like Nathan)

Super Nana!

Nathan's mom came to visit the Friday before Thanksgiving and spent a few days with us before we headed to Tennessee. It was great to have her help with the kids and on the 11 hour road trip. I think both kids enjoyed the attention. And while Jack loves all his relatives, he sure does have a special place in his heart for his grandmothers.

The Purchase I Never Thought I'd Make

2008-11-20T20:20:00.000-08:00

So, there's nothing attractive about a minivan. I fought the purchase of one for some time now. In fact, we purchased a bigger crossover (Mazda CX-9) this summer when we knew we would need more space with two carseats. But, what I learned in the process was family-friendly features trump style anyday. The crossover was awkward and the 3rd row seat was practically inaccessible with the two car seats on the front row. It was hard to crawl in the back if the kids were going crazy. It was next to impossible to get the kids in and out of carseats in a cramped parking lot because the doors were so large. And the double stroller wouldn't even fit in the back without folding one half of the third row down. So, we decided to cut our losses and downsize (buy a older/less expensive minivan) for both the convenience and the hope that I can eventually work part-time. We found a great deal on a Toyota Sienna. And now I'm in LOVE! I don't care how I look driving down the road. I am comfortable. The power sliding doors allow me to get my kids in and out easily (even with a bag of groceries in my other hand....I just have to push a button for them to open on their own). The van sits lower to the ground so Jack can crawl into the vehicle on his own. There are about 50 cupholders in case us and all our friends and neighbors get the urge to go to Sonic during happy hour. There's a little mommy-watch-my-kids rearview mirror (like you find on a school bus) so I can tell if Jack's causing trouble in the back. There's is all kinds of storage space/cubbies for Jack to hid his hippo, Henry. The back has ample room for our double stroller plus luggage. There's a DVD player with wireless headphones so Jack can watch the movie 'Cars' for the 100th time (but we don't have to). And to top it all off, it gets better gas mileage than the crossover. It's a good fit for us and one I would highly recommend to anyone with more than one child, especially if they are little. Little kids just have lots of stuff and that stuff takes up space. I've definately got all the space I could need with our new wheels and I'm okay looking a little less hip driving down the road.

Three Months Old

2008-11-20T09:51:00.001-08:00

We're still working on head control so she can't tolerate the Bumbo for long...but I think eventually it will be a hit.

Goofy Grin

Caroline is three months old! I can't believe it. Seems like these last three months have been a blur. It's hard being a mom of two and working full time but with the help of my WONDERFUL husband, family, and friends, we have survived 3 months!!

Caroline has been busy these past three months. She's growing like a weed, despite her reflux. It's odd to think she's almost outgrown all her 3-6 month clothes (mainly in length). She loves to chatter, smile, chew on her hands, take a bath, stare at her brother, and look in the mirror. She does not like sleeping, being left alone in a room, or being undressed. She's spitting up everywhere these days which is pretty disgusting (Jack was not a spitter) but I'm learning how to deal with the permanent smell of formula on my clothes and am thankful for Oxi Clean.

Jack is handling his big brother duties well. I think he's finally adjusted to the idea of sharing mom (it was hard at first). He never lets me leave the house without Caroline's essentials (or what he thinks are the essential house-leaving items). She must have a blanket, bottle, pacifier, and stuffed animal before we can go anywhere (these are his rules, not mine). And because he's a bit OCD he double-checks prior to leaving to make sure all items are present and accounted for. He's a pretty good little helper.

Chatterbox

2008-11-20T09:29:00.000-08:00

Caroline loves to chatter. She's been doing it for a while now but one of her favorite things to talk to is this little stuffed lion. She'll talk his head off. She also loves company and does not like being alone in a room. We have a future socialite on our hands.

Blog Makeover

2008-11-14T09:48:00.000-08:00

It's been a long time coming but finally the blog has been redesigned and I love it. Thanks to Playful Pickles Designs for the new look!

Redemption Video

2008-11-02T16:55:00.000-08:00

The last video we posted of Caroline was pretty unbecoming of her - so this is a redemption post.

Fun with Grandma and Grandpa

2008-11-02T16:30:00.001-08:00

My folks were in town for the weekend and it was WONDERFUL! Nathan and I needed their support. They even watched the kids one night so we could go out. It was so nice. Anyway, Caroline loved some new people to entertain and Jack always enjoys time with them so it was just a great weekend. I thought about driving past the airport when it was time for them to leave so they missed their flight...but figured that probably wasn't a very nice idea.

Halloween Boycott

2008-11-02T15:48:00.000-08:00

One of her super powers is seeing cross-eyed.

So, Halloween was a bust this year...again. Not sure if ya'll remember but last year Jack was sick on Halloween. We stuffed him in his elephant costume long enough to take 2 pictures and then took it off. Well, this year was a repeat. He had a horrible viral infection (and is actually still recovering) with fever blisters all over his tongue, gums, and lips. It was miserable. So, needless to say he did not feel like dressing like Batman - even for a picture. My hope is that one day I can put them back in their costumes for a group photo even though Halloween is over. I thought the whole 'Justice League' theme was good - but Wonder Woman was flying solo with the costumage. Jack did go trick-o-treating in his shorts and t-shirt with some friends. He actually liked it for the first 30 minutes until he realized that his mouth hurt. I'm optimistic about next Halloween...

Arrested Development: The Party

2008-11-02T15:41:00.000-08:00

Big Franklin (Shane) and little Franklin (Caroline)

George Michael, Ann Veal and Franklin

We have lots of friends who are big fans of Arrested Development. Some of our friends (Shane and Sylvia) thought it would be a good idea to have a A.D. themed Halloween party. Everyone was in the spirit, dressing like characters - except my super serious son. Frozen bananas were even served..

Just a Swingin'

2008-11-02T15:33:00.000-08:00

Caroline doesn't like her swing much but she is somewhat entertained by the moving stars.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

2008-11-02T15:29:00.000-08:00

I love Baby Legs (legwarmers) but Nathan thinks they are way too 1980s.

Jack's Pumpkin

2008-11-02T15:27:00.000-08:00

Mr. Pumpkinhead. Stickers by Jack.

Two Month Checkup

2008-10-23T09:23:00.000-07:00

Just an update on Caroline's growth. She's currently 23 3/4 inches long (95th percentile) and weighs 12lbs 12 oz (95th percentile). I think all the weight is in her cheeks! Looks like she's on pace with where her brother was when he was an infant.

Sweet Caroline

2008-10-19T20:04:00.000-07:00

So, calmer days have arrived at the Garvin house. I don't know if it's her reflux medicine that's finally working at its prime or if it's her age. She still has rocky moments but overall there seems to be more peace. And these two pictures were just too cute to pass up posting.

Showing our Smiles

2008-10-19T19:59:00.000-07:00

It's not the greatest picture. But here is one of Caroline's first smiles.

Actually caught Jack (with a horrible haircut might I add) smiling.

Aunt Lainee was getting into the smiling action, too. Or was this her scary face?

Fashion Show

2008-10-19T19:55:00.000-07:00

These are some of Caroline's new 3-6 month outfits. It's so crazy that she's already that big! But the girl does love to eat. Anyway, I think the bubble skirt (bottom picture) from Nana is so cute.

Halloween Dilemma

2008-10-01T20:10:00.001-07:00

So, this appears to be the first Halloween where Jack has a mind of his own and keeps vetoing all of my costume ideas. I really wanted him to be a monkey and then dress Caroline like a banana, but he has informed me he does not want to be a monkey. We've been looking at costumes online and he saw a Batman costume. Thanks to the toys they are currently distributing at McDonalds, he now wants to be Batman. He's never even seen Batman and had no idea who he was prior to receiving the cheap little toy at Old McDonalds (as he calls it). I'm not sure how I feel about him dressing up like a superhero. It seems so dark for a 2 1/2 year old. Am I being one of those crazy overprotective moms? I need some feedback. So, if you'd like to give your opinion follow the link below to fill out a quick (2 question survey).

Click Here to take survey

Random Pictures

2008-09-27T11:43:00.001-07:00

Jack's school had a birthday party for Johnny Appleseed on Friday so they encouraged the kids to dress like him and they made these little hats. Jack didn't really want to go to school (long story) but decided it wasn't so bad after his class made an apple pie together. On a sad note, Henry, the hippo was lost sometime Friday afternoon in his classroom. He was pretty depressed about it and whined the rest of the afternoon saying, "I want Henry...I want Henry". So, when Nathan got home from work we loaded up the car and went to Toysrus to pick out a new friend. He initially chose a giant penguin, which we thought might be a little difficult to tote around, so we convinced him to pick something else. He picked a cow and we had a naming ceremony for him. He shall be called 'Charlie'. Anyway, he did okay last night with Charlie so we'll see...for those who have spent any time with Jack you know how much he loved his hippo!

Nathan made fun of me for putting this outfit on her...but hey, it's never too early for a good pair of jeans, right? I also love these pictures because they show the wave that she has to her hair (that is more evident following bath time).

One Month Old

2008-09-27T11:37:00.000-07:00

I hate that this picture is blurry because I think it's so sweet.

So, Caroline turned 1 month on the 18th. Crazy to think we've had her for a month already! Nathan took her to her well baby check and was so concerned with discussing her fussiness with the doctor that I really didn't get a good report of her growth. So, I apologize. I know she weighed in at 10 lbs 2 oz...which is a pretty hefty weight gain (her last weight at 1 week was 7lbs 6 oz). The doctor said he sees this a lot in babies with painful reflux as swallowing makes them feel better. I don't know how long she was but she definately seems longer to me and is filling out her 0-3 month clothes now. No, smiles yet - but I'm hoping it will be any day.

The Sweet Sounds of Colic

2008-09-27T11:29:00.000-07:00

I apologize for the delay in posting. Things have been a little rocky here the past few weeks as it seems our sweet little Caroline has some serious colic (and reflux). Last week for four days in a row we heard this kind of screaming for 4-6 hours straight. I only wish I was exaggerating! We have tried everything... The doctor thinks it may be related to reflux so she's started taking Prevacid. We also found this wonderful stuff called 'gripe water'. It's herbal and really seems to soothe her. She also has found joy in being swaddled. So, we're just trying to make it through and are hoping she grows out of this stage quickly. The other day she actually wasn't crying and Jack said 'Mom, she's happy'. I was like 'yeah, she is happy...it's a miracle'.

Uncle Nick Visits

2008-09-14T14:33:00.001-07:00

Caroline checking out hairy Uncle Nick

Pretty comfortable shoulder...

Uncle Nick brings presents...an instant hit.

Caroline is Growing - 3 Weeks Old

2008-09-14T14:30:00.000-07:00

Caroline hanging out with Dad.

All dressed up!

Old News: Pre-Caroline Garvin Family Fun

2008-09-14T14:21:00.000-07:00

Jack's calling the elephants

The Parade of Pachyderms!

Jack helping baby Nate celebrate his first birthday.

When the circus was in town in early August they had a big Pachyderm parade down main street. It was pretty cool but only lasted about 10 seconds. I guess it was worth the street waiting but I'd probably bring a chair next year. Also, some good friends of ours moved back to the area so it was nice spending some time with them on their son's first birthday!

Old News: Baby Shower Madness

2008-09-14T14:14:00.001-07:00

Everyone crowding around the table seeking inspiration for their 'onesie'.

Ryan and Whitney came up with a 'bloody arm' theme for their onesie - Yikes!

We had a lot of 'Arrested Development' themed onesies by the end.

Cliff taking the task very seriously (but he couldn't quite figure out the paint pen).

The kids - Jack was so done with picture time.

While my sister was here in early August she threw us a shower (which was so nice, thanks Lainee!). These are some of the pictures I've been delayed in posting. It was a lot of fun and we had a great time seeing the onesie decorating our friends came up with. Some were very creative...others were just plain scary. We'll see which ones we actually put on our daughter.

Going, going....

2008-09-06T15:24:00.000-07:00

Not bad for a 2 year old!

Meeting New Friends

2008-09-06T15:19:00.000-07:00

Caroline and Hannah (Caroline looks so uninterested...)

Sara and Honor

Cliff looking uncomfortable..Caroline looking quite the opposite.

It's never too early to learn about Cars.

These Pictures Say So Much...

2008-09-01T20:41:00.001-07:00

Okay, I love this picture because this is a pose we see every once in a while. He's so dramatic (and stubborn)...just like his Daddy.

He's also a total goofball.

This is the kind of help you get in the kitchen from this kid.

Not sure if you can tell, but in this picture he's sopping wet. Always...

Didn't want Jack to get forgotten in the blogging madness of our new addition. He has developed quite the personality over these past few months. This week his favorite thing to say about his food was "It's not delicious. It's terrible." Where did he learn 'terrible'? I have no idea. I try to keep a serious face and tell him it is impolite to say that but it's so funny that sometimes I just can't help but crack up.

Updated Family Photo

2008-09-01T20:36:00.000-07:00

Some people are always getting onto me for not having more family pictures. It's hard when someone has to be behind the camera. So for those who have been complaining (you know who you are), here is your updated family photo. Enjoy.

Don't know what she's thinking about but she looks pretty sweet.

I love how Caroline is looking at Jack like he's crazy. There will be many more years of this look to follow I'm sure.

Deep in thought with one little cross eye.

More Sleeping Pictures

2008-08-29T19:12:00.000-07:00

Okay, I just can't get enough pictures of sleeping Caroline. She just looks so sweet. And honestly, she doesn't do much more than sleep and eat. She is so content! So, for now this is one of Caroline's favorite things to do.

Settling In to Life with Two

2008-08-29T19:06:00.000-07:00

Sleeping in her Moses Basket

Love the hairbow!

Meeting Grandma for the first time

Caroline and Sylvia (below)

Blog Makeover

2008-08-25T20:33:00.000-07:00

I'm in serious need of a blog makeover. Give me your thoughts. New blog name ideas?

We're Home and It's Official

2008-08-24T13:26:00.001-07:00

Jack just pulled his chair up in front of Caroline the other day and watched her. It was pretty sweet.

She wants her bottle!

We finally made it back to Texas Friday morning. It was a long drive home but went relatively smooth. In Mississippi on Thursday afternoon, the papers were signed and then our attorney surprised us by saying we could go directly over to the courthouse to get it finalized. (We were thinking this was going to happen Friday afternoon.) Everything went without a hitch and we were issued our final decree of adoption. She's officially ours and we couldn't be more thrilled! She's the sweetest and most content little girl. So glad to have her home!

Meet Caroline Grace

2008-08-24T13:19:00.001-07:00

Jack and his little sister

Aunt Lainee

Time with Grandpa

It took us a while but we finally landed on a name! Caroline is what we came up with for her first name. Grace is the middle name her birth mom gave her plus it's actually her birth mom's middle name so we wanted to keep that so she had a little piece of both families.

Jack's Little Sister

2008-08-18T14:53:00.001-07:00

Jack's little sister is here. She was born today around 2 p.m.. She's healthy and beautiful! Lots of thick dark hair. She was 7 lbs 11 oz and 20 inches long. We're thrilled she's finally here!! We'll post more pictures soon.

Like Father Like Son

2008-08-01T08:53:00.001-07:00