Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Jack's First Feeding

Jack is 4 months old and ready for Stage 1 Foods! He has always been ahead of the game as far as meals go. Just like Carter, he has a rather healthy appetite. So, we started him on baby food tonight after getting the blessing from our pediatrician at Jack's 4 month old appointment. It went well...Carter helped out....that, of course, made things interesting.

Here is Jack with big blue eyes wide open after a few bites from me. He wasn't sure what to think about the applesauce....way more tart than his previous cereal meals.


Carter starts to feed Jack, always stopping to pose for the camera.


Here is Jack enjoying his dinner and doing well!


At this point, Carter calmly puts the spoon down and then runs from the room because Jack put his applesauce-covered baby hand on him.


Happy as a clam after his first big boy meal.

Waking Up With Jack



Why can't we all wake up singing and talking to the bird mobile fluttering above our bed? Jack is so happy in the morning....wakes right on time after 12 hours of sleep at 7:00am. He is my alarm clock each morning....with his darling laugh and chattering to himself. We should all be so happy to start the day!

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

New Camera!

Blake and I have lived in the digital world for 3 years now. In that time, we've only bought 2 cameras which may seem like plenty to most people, but considering how often we use them, it's really not. Blake currently has our first one, a dinosaur of sorts that has seen better days. It was dropped on vacation a couple of years ago and is currently being held together by duck tape. It still takes good pictures, but it's tempermental and seems to go on strike every now and then and only take one photo per charging.

I kept the big camera here to keep up with the boys and all their activities. So Blake needs an upgrade. We got it...it's fabulous and I'm jealous and now want to ship mine to him. I won't, though. We've got to let him have some fun, too!

A few photos from the new camera. Carter and I have been playing with it all day.

Carter's pictures. He's actually a great photographer and seems to love it as much as we do!






Carter doing his "moose antlers" that Blake recently taught him.


He made this one up...."the top of a chicken".


Carter playing Playstation and Jack watching him if you ask me....or learning how to play if you ask him.

Monday, August 28, 2006

Dinner With The Rand Girls

Alisha, Haylee and Grace spent the afternoon with us at Chuck E Cheese's today. Carter and Haylee got along famously as always. They are quite a pair! The Rands are such a special family to us.....dating back to our "pre-kids, pre-mortgage, pre-adulthood days". We will miss them greatly when we move.

Carter and Haylee.


Alisha and Gracie.


Sweet Gracie rocking Jack.


Grace reading Jack a book.


Where Carter and Haylee spent most of their time....negotiating with the Chuck E Cheese people for toys from their tickets.

Sunday With Ceason

Only 4 more weeks until we move. Still plenty left to do in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. We'll find it!

Ceason joined us on Sunday at the DFW Airport Park called Founders Plaza. It's a neat place to watch the planes take off, listen to the air controller, etc. Carter LOVED this.

This pilot is not, but some waved to Carter as they drove by.








Then, we took off to Dallas to go to the top of Reunion Tower. I've lived in the Dallas/Fort Worth area for 24 years, collectively, and I don't think I've ever been to the tower. Ceason had not either. It's neat and only $2. We spotted the AA center where Carter went to the circus, the Dallas World Aquarium, Texas Stadium, and Ceason's cat, Cali, perched on her balcony in McKinney. Amazing view!

The tower.


The ride up.






Sunday, August 27, 2006

Jack Starnes At 4 Months Old

Exactly 4 months ago today, we were blessed with the arrival of darling baby Jack. After a rather interesting and stressful pregnancy, he came into our lives the picture of health and we're so grateful for it!

Sweet newborn Jack coming home from the hospital. (weight is 8 lbs, 12 oz)


Baby Jack at 4 months old. (Weight TBD at appt this week. Any guesses? He was 13 lbs, 6 oz at 2 months. Be nice!)

Blake On The Go

More from Blake's travels. I can't wait to get there and share all of this with the boys!

Mt. Rushmore. The sculptor began drilling in 1927 and took 14 years to finish the memorial. Can you name the 4 presidents? I was surprised that I could!


George Washington. Beautiful picture, Blake.


Traveling Daddy....in a winter coat this time of year.....I'm jealous!


Needles Highway, as in you're on "pins and needles" driving on it because of the sharp turns and risky, narrow paths.


Tunnel on the highway. Is that two lanes?!


Misty mountain.


You don't see this everyday. A buffalo in the road.


Free range buffalo. Hard to find these days. Blake said that he heard these are some of the last wild, roaming buffalo left in the United States. Most you see are planted on a farm (like hwy 114).


Home for the weekend.


Crazy Horse Memorial in the Black Hills.


Horse Thief Lake.

Saturday, August 26, 2006

Visit With The Clemens Family

Carter, Jack and I had lunch with the Clemens family on Saturday. Always a good time!


Bunny ears.


Granmudder got Carter with the bunny ears!


Carter got them, too!


Caroline LOVES Jack! And, he adores her as well.


Ceason, Caroline and the boys.


Granmudder, Grandad and the Grandkids.

Elementary School Sock Hop

Carter's school hosted a "sock hop" Friday night. We met Annette and her parents there...played some games and had fun!

Here are a few photos:

Annette and Carter.




Face painting! Of course, Carter had to get the fire symbol. I hope this fascination dwindles soon.


In the gym at the actual "dance". They did more running than they did dancing.


At the water balloon launch.