Our Christmas Tree is Up

Christmas tree time!!  Is it me or did this year literally pass by in a mili-second?  I mean, it's terrible because that means I'm getting older quicker.  Not good, not good.  

Anyway, it was time for another family night decorating our tree.  Last year, Bossy was an awesome helper.  And I'd have to say, he was pretty amazing this year, too.  He was really into making sure the ornaments were in the right place and he had some good opinions about which ornaments to add to the tree.  The best part was seeing him so excited to help and interested.  I know he was proud of the end result.

It would have taken me a month of Sundays if he hadn't helped.  Although, it did take a little longer after a little dancing, photo/video taking, singing, time-out episodes and snack breaks.  But we got her up and she's a Beaut!!

 Bossy told me to pose.  ha.

 Snack break for the littlest. 

 Bossy laughed after he took this photo because he caught me off guard and snapped it without me knowing.  Love that little due.

 Teaching Bossy the 3 things that you need to start a fire.  

 He was the best helper.  

 Ohhh this guy. He was a mess.  Cranky as all get out.  

 Our first fire in our "new" fireplace.  *we recently knocked out our tile that surrounded our fireplace and added rock all the way up to the ceiling. more on that later*

 So, each year we'll have the boys take a photo of the tree after we've set it up and decorated it.  The two previous years were easy peasy.  This year, not so much.  :)

Navy boy was adamant about not-taking-a-photo.  So we rolled with the punches and snapped a few anyway.  Ha.  You know-for those later photos that we can show to his future wife.  Oh, and to remember that night.  I'm sure I'll laugh later, even though I wasn't laughing at all during the moment.  :) 

Until next year, boys!

xo,
Jen

Baby #2 Needs A Journal, Too

As soon as we found out that we were pregnant with Boston we immediately went out and got a journal to write in.  We were pretty religious about writing to "the baby" while I was pregnant and up until now.  It's something that we don't share with anyone.  It's contains some of our deepest thoughts to him and sometimes it's just dated and has "I Love You" written on it.  It's become one of the most cherished things that we own.  Over the last 4 years we have loved going back through it and reading what we wrote and what was happening during a certain part of my pregnancy with him or how our lives were when he was only a few days/months old.  There's so much that I had forgotten until I'll start reading all the little fun things that were happening.  It's a journal that will eventually be his when he's old enough to appreciate it.  Until then Jer and I will continue to write to him our thoughts, our love, his growth, what new words he started saying and everything in between.   

Jer writing in Boston's journal one morning while I was in the hospital on bed rest.  Easily, one of my favorite pictures.  It's crazy to think that we were writing to a baby whom we didn't even know the gender of.

 

So, for baby #2 we knew we wanted to do the same thing.  About 3 weeks after we saw the "pregnant" word on that little stick (after our first sonogram appointment to make sure that my uterus was indeed occupied) we went back to Barnes and Noble and found that they had the exact same journal that we got Boston.  We thought of maybe getting a different style for the new baby but didn't really see any that we thought was "gender neutral" or even cute.  So we opted to stick with the same brown leather journal.  After all, we want to be fair.  :)  

We couldn't wait to start writing to the newest Cook.  And we are excited about continuing the tradition for both babies.

A trip to the bookstore isn't complete with out a heaping bowl of gelato!  It helps that it's within walking distance.  

Nothing like some good ol' gelato to finish a sentimental family night.  Even the baby had a taste.  :)

xo

The Day We Found Out Blessing #2 Was On The Way

On the morning of February 23rd, we were reminded once again of Gods love and faithfulness.  

I had been feeling a little different.  Different in my lower stomach area.  I knew that it wasn't time for "that time of the month" but kinda thought something was going on downtown.  :)  And since we had been trying for a baby I figured, why not.  Why not take a test.  So we woke up, got Boston some breakfast and I went to do my thing.  We waited about 5 minutes and we were itching to go into the bathroom to read what it said.  Since I am always too nervous, I sent Jer into the bathroom while I watched from the bed.  His reaction is always priceless.  It was just like last time...he picks it up, mouth opens wide and smiles.  By that time I'm standing right next to him and we both just start laughing/crying/oh my goodenss'ing/in shock/ecstatic....well you get it.  It was amazing!  All in about 30 seconds our lives had changed for the best.  Meanwhile, little Bossy is still sitting in the kitchen eating his breakfast.  

We knew that since he's a chatty little thing it would be best to keep this to ourselves until we get everything confirmed at our first sonogram appointment almost 3 weeks later.  So a secret we kept.  From everyone! For almost a month.

For about a week after learning about a new baby, every time we would think about it it would put a huge smile on our faces.  They were definitely "wow I can't believe this is happening" kinda smiles.  

However, the special day wouldn't be the same without a similar picture like the one that we took the day we found out we were expecting Boston.   

We stuck with the same Clearblue tests since we like seeing the word pregnant on it.  :)  This time around they had new and improved tests.  They now say the week of gestation that you are.  And I have to say, it was right on the nose since I was a little more than a week out from it being "that time" for me.  Isn't that cool?  How clever, Clearblue!

 It's fun to see this picture with our little man in it with us.  And daddy representing baby #2.  :)

It was such an awesome morning.  One that we'll never forget.  And it will definitely go into the memory book.  It's often still so weird to think that we won't only have Bossy anymore.  That we will have another little human running around here eventually.  I can't quite fathom it just yet.  But I know it'll be amazing.  We are so thankful to our Lord for His grace.  It always amazes me that we as woman can grow a human.  Absolutely miraculous.

Next up....our tradition that we did for Boston and now for the new baby.  :)

xo

Valentines Day 2014

We really love Valentine's day around these parts.  Really any holiday for that matter.  This year was kind typical.  

However, last year was a little more on the non-typical side of things with an ambulance trip in the mix.    

We try to make it special for all of us with a family dinner at home.  Here's what we did this year!  

let the little dude tell everyone Happy Valentine's Day

opened a little v-day treat

while daddy started dinner, we made a few sweet marshmallow treats

they even turned out puurrty good!

our table-scape filled with steak, shrimp and salad

bossy saying our prayer

gosh I love my family!!  

Unbelievably blessed.

xo

The Christmas Decorating Tradition - Part 1

Every year we all put up our Christmas decorations as a family and this year was no different.  We listened to Christmas music and documented our night.  Keeping my fingers crossed that Boston grows up loving this little tradition and passes it down to his kids.  

He was a little more into it this year than he was last year.  Although, after about 25 minutes of helping with lights and hanging alls on the Christmas tree he was pretty much done.  He moved on to some trains playing, taunting Jet with the Christmas tree lights and wanting a snack.  Toddlers.  

Clearly he grew a little.  :)  Last years Christmas pj's.

Daddy puts the tree together.  I spread the branches out so the tree looks full.  And then dada wraps the tree with lights.  Yes, we are still living in the 1990's with a light-less tree.  :)

That hiney cracked us up with those tight pj's on.

 His ball hanging was superb.

 Superb-ly all in one spot.

 Ohhh and we can't forget our infamous tradition of hanging a ball together.  Mainly to see how big he grows each year.  

2012 :: 2011 :: 2010

Our perfectly imperfect 2013 Christmas tree!

xo