He loves (to eat) feet

Jack's Baptism

This post is a few weeks overdue, but, really, what's new? Here it is, Mom.

We celebrated Jack's baptism a few weekends ago. It was such a fun weekend and so great to have all the grandparents and Aunt Carly in town.

Jack wore a gown that has been in Rob's family for decades. It has been worn by everyone from his great-grandfather to his cousins. I had a moment of misgiving about putting my burly boy in such a beautiful, delicate lace gown, but he was far from the first little man to wear this (pretty) garment. In fact, in this testosterone-dominant family, I'm thinking that his Aunt Aline may have been the only baby girl to ever wear it.

The morning was so special. We love our church and feel so blessed to be a part of it. We've watched many of our dear friends' children be baptized here, and it was so encouraging to think of the role that they will play in Jack's life. It was a morning to celebrate the hope that we have as recipients of God's grace and to pray that Jack will one day experience that personally. Our pastor did such a great job of explaining the significance of Jack's baptism, which I am not fully capturing here. I wish you all could have been there.

Much to our relief, Jack was great that morning despite missing his nap. He made up for it before we even left the stage. Apparently being the center of attention in front of a few hundred people doesn't impress our little man.

He spent the rest of the service passed out in Rob's arms, with us readjusting him occasionally so that his snores wouldn't drown out the sermon.

We'll take it! What a sweet, sweet day for our little one.

He loves (to eat) books

Thank You for the Burp Cloths

I feel like I'm just coming up for air after a couple of weeks of super-busyness and a few days of nasty stomach flu... all good things (well, not the stomach flu) that I've enjoyed and am thankful for, but busy, busy all the same. Blogs about those good things are forthcoming, but first I had to share a couple of things that I came across when uploading from the camera tonight.

This was meant to be a picture capturing how much our boy loves to cuddle. And he does lurv to cuddle, especially when he can tuck right in under daddy's chin. So sweet. We are trying to just soak all that cuddly goodness up now while we can. Anyway, check out the impressive waterfall hanging off that lower lip. A perpetual fountain of drool flows pretty much all the time.

In that same vein, enjoy this video of my dad and Jack. I don't think they ever succeeded in capturing Jack laughing, which I think is what they were going for. But you will notice my dad wipe Jack's drool. On my throw pillow. And my (cream) chair. Thanks, Dad :-)

Road Warriors

Jack and I took our first road trip to Birmingham at the beginning of March.  I felt slightly guilty for subjecting my sweet little one to my crazy road trip routine, but at just over five months, he handled it like a champ.

We had dinner with several friends from my pledge class on Friday night (which Jack mainly slept through), and then spent the night with Carly.  He, of course, ate up all the attention that she lavished on him. 

And she graciously watched him on Saturday while I went to the main event, the Alpha Delta Pi Kappa Chapter 100th Anniversary luncheon.  As you would expect, there were some cheesy moments, but more than anything it was a fun time to reminisce and a great opportunity to spend time with dear friends that I don't see nearly often enough. 

(I pilfered some pictures from your blog, Jenn... hope you don't mind!)

That evening Jack and I moved to Dori's house where we spent time with my close friends and their families.  The seven little ones made our time together a bit more chaotic than it used to be, but it was good for the soul. 

It was so great to watch my baby with the children of women who have played such an important role in my life.  I think Jenn, Ashley, and Dori may all have been there the night that Rob and I first met!  (They can tell you how smitten I was right away.)  Jack and Audrey's second date:

(Side note- This is one of my favorite facebook comments ever on the above picture: "I love that swath of hair. He looks like a 50's gang member. The kind that rolls cigarettes in his t-shirt sleeve and snaps." Awesome, Emily.)

We capped off the weekend with a visit to Aline, Bou, Davis and Grayson.  It was so much fun to watch all the cousins together.  Jack thought Davis was hysterical.  Davis was able to make Jack laugh just by looking at him.  (Sadly, I didn't get any pictures.)  He already adores his older cousins!

Baby/Momma road-trip number one- success!

The Fourth Month

We have Jack's five month check-up this afternoon, so I thought it might be about time to post his four month update!  I won't even attempt to tell you all about the little man, saving that instead for the five month update that will hopefully follow shortly (no promises!). 

At four months our not-so-little man was tipping the scales at 17 lbs., 15 oz. and was measuring 27 inches.  He seems to be growing at warp speed, and I'm constantly finding that he has outgrown this or that outfit.  He is happy and loud, talking all the time at home, but also content to sit back and take it all in when we are out and about.  He smiles and laughs, and we lovehimsosomuch.  This fouth month has been one of settling in- the newborn stage is slipping away, and we are getting into the swing of things- our new normal, our new routine.  I think we are constantly surprised by just how right it all feels.  Ok, so I couldn't resist saying a bit about him... now on to pictures!

Jack-a-roo at four months:

And, tiring of my photoshoot:

And, some of my other four month favorites:

Dad's Perspective

So I (Rob here) felt it necessary to give you all a little of the outside observer's perspective on Sara's blogging.

I must say I've been very impressed with her commitment to documenting Jack's growth and influence on our lives. It warms my soul to watch her and Jack interact. I can't imagine a life that doesn't include the two of them.

So here we go...

Sara's favorite spot to work on a post is at the kitchen table with our little man in her lap. And Jack is quite fond of it too. He's showing much interest in the laptop:





A little tighter shot shows Jack's excitement:

He evens makes his edits known:

And is quite pleased when his name is mentioned:

Like I said at the top of this post, I can't imagine a life without these two...

Hope you've enjoyed these candids. Oh, and a special thank you goes out to Carly for her Christmas gift to us (the painting in the background of these shots). Thank you Carly, we love it.

-Rob