Hello Bear

AJ likes to "baby-talk" to Jack ALLLLLL the time. I know he gets it from his family because ALL of them baby-talk to Jack. I'm sure Jack will have no idea what their voices actually sound like until he's like 5 when the amount of baby-talk will hopefully slow down.

So it's a little thing AJ has down since Jack was born is he says "hello Jack," in his regular man voice, and then responds for Jack, "hello Daddy," in a super low deep man voice. And AJ laughs at himself every time because he has no idea why he alwasy responds in a deeper voice as "jack." Anyway, it's one of those insider family jokes that's probably only funny to us, but you had to understand that to get this picture.

We were in Costco just looking around and getting free samples since we don't belong anymore and therefore can't buy anything, and we came across this big stuffed animal bear that I let Jack go feel and hug since he was fuzzy. AJ took a picture and now our caption to this picture, as Jack has a very questionable look on his face towards the bear, is "Hello bear," (in normal man voice), "hello Jack" (says the bear in a super low voice). It sounds so serious like they are in a stare down! HA!

Anyway, I'm sure no one gets this and it's one of those "you just had to be there" jokes but I thought the picture is funny either way. No, Jack did not get the bear to bring home. Althought I kind of wish we did now! HA!

Uncle Eric

Eric, AJ's bestman, came to visit and got to meet Jack for the first time! It was great to go out to dinner to our favorite place, Big Fish Grille in Crofton too! They left Jack a gift for Christmas so we opened it and he loved the paper and I LOVED the outfits!

Eric and his new Fiance, Danielle, are getting married this May! We can't wait! Thank you guys for the gift for Jack!

Jack's First Christmas

We decided not to get Jack any gifts this year since we knew Grandparents were going to get him plenty and we just wanted to remember the morning without lots of gifts he won't remember.

Our day started out at 7am when Jack woke up and AJ and I started a little breakfast and had Jack open his two gifts that friends had given us. He actually did rip up the paper and chew on it a little so that was fun! We got lots of pictures and a movie. Jack's "roomate" Dennis, who stays in our guest bedroom a few nights a week, got him the cutest Santa hat! It matched perfectly with his Christmas sleep sack!

We sang Happy Birthday to Baby Jesus and hung up the new ornament that Jack and AJ bought me for this year (a tradition that AJ began the year AJ proposed). Jack went down for a nap and we opened gifts to eachother. It was a wonderful Christmas as a fmaily of 3! Enjoy the pictures! It was one great morning to remember!

New Baby Baloga

Our friends Chris and Marci Baloga had their first boy on December 8th at 2:43pm!! 8lbs 1oz and 21 inches long. We went to visit them 3 days later when they got home and couldn't believe how little he was. It's hard to imagine Jack was ever that little, because he's so big now.

Congrats new parents! Welcome to the club!

Boys Doing the Shopping

Melissa and I were at Mom and Dad's for Holly's birthday on the 12th and had to run to Safeway, so we took the boys with us! Thankfully they fit in the carts because they are getting too big to just carry around. They look like they are riding in style!

Santa's Lap

As this time of year tends to bring confusion and forgetfulness to most Americans on the real reason for the season... we want to make sure that we emphasize and encourage Jack in celebrating the birth of Jesus, our Risen Savior! We're still debating on some Christmas traditions to have so that there is no doubt in Jack's mind about Jesus's birthday. Any good ideas, please pass them on!

Despite that, we do plan to at least involve Santa Claus a little bit. Northrop Grumman puts on a Donuts with Santa every year and we get a chance to see where Daddy works, and where Mommy used to work and Grandpa used to work and Uncle Charles works! So we waited in the long line and discussed how to break it to Santa that we wanted him to take a pump of hand sanitizer before holding Jack. When we got to our turn, Santa was wearing gloves so we handed Jack over with comfort! :o)

In Mommy & Daddy's Bed Photoshoot

Last Friday morning, I was tired from being up late watching a movie with AJ before we had to return it to redbox... so once Jack woke up from his nap I pulled him into bed with me and he just kept talking and cooing so I just had to take some pictures of him. I know... it's probably excessive but I thought you could see a little of his personality through these selected few!