Supporting the Arts

Since I moved to Louisville in 2004, my mom and I have been attending the St. James Court Art Show which is a huge art fair with lots of crafts, art and good food.  We usually spend several hours looking at all the booths and making our way up every street and alley.  Well this year we took Jax along.  While we might have cut the trip a little short and not make it to every booth, we had a fantastic time.

It was a perfect fall day with cool crisp air and sunshine.   We started the morning off refreshed (well some of us) and ready to start shopping.  Jax was happy as could be in his stroller with his blanket and sock monkey.

We walked around for almost two hours before taking a break for lunch.  During our break my mom and I had to try out the adorable hat she bought Jax.  It is made form old sweaters and is just too cute.  I think Jax liked it as well. 

Getting a little play time in before heading back to the arts and crafts!

We were over half way through when Jax started to get a little restless.  It had been over 3 hours of riding in the stroller and a baby can only take so much!  We therefore got him out and took turns carrying him while we headed back toward our car.  Can you tell from the expression that Jax was about done?

On our way out we had to stop at one of the booths to pick up some purchases that they were holding for us.  Mom went ahead to pick the purchases up while I stayed behind to sit down with Jax.  He looked like this within moments of us sitting down.

Jax was exhausted and slept on the way home.  We had such a great day and mom and I both got a start on our Christmas shopping!  It finally feels like fall and I love it. 

Sharing the Spotlight

Jax may get top billing 99% of the time in this blog, but Ladybird is doing her best to grab some of the spotlight. I would be a terrible dog parent if I didn't mention that Ladybird is the "Pet of the Week" in The News Enterprise. 

While there might have been a slight case of nepotism as our cousin Becca works for the paper, it is well deserved nonetheless.  Ladybird is famous!  :)

Friends

Having a kid really makes you focus on the important things in life.  What I want for Jax is simple, to be healthy and happy.  A part of that wish is that I want Jax to have friends.  Not just acquaintances or passing friends, but life long friends:  friends that you do everything with when you are little, that you miss terribly when they move away, and friends that no matter where they are or how long it has been since you have seen them, you can reunite with and enjoy their company like no time has passed at all.  I had these friends, the Brandon girls.  Growing up my best friend was Katie and I was friends with her older sisters Keely and Emily as well.

Here at the four of us at a parade.  Katie is on the far left and I am the one the middle with the pink hair bow.

So many of my childhood memories involved Katie and her sisters.  When they moved to France in fourth grade we even went to visit them.   

Katie and I during our visit in France showing off our new dolls.

    Katie is hard to keep up with these days as she has lived all over the country and most recently Africa.  It was a real treat then when I went to my parents church two weeks ago and she was in town visiting as well.  It was so great catching up with her and getting to see her two little boys and introduce her to Jax as well. 

 

We have traded in those girl dolls for a handful of boys and I love it.  While we may not live close, I will always enjoy the time I do have catching up with her.  I can't wait to watch our little ones grow up and hopefully make great friends of their own.  

Five Months Old

Jax,

It seems like we just finished writing your four month post, but here again ... another month has passed so quickly.  While it is hard to believe you are one month older, you really look it!  You seemed to have a major growth spurt in the last 2 weeks and the ever increasing pile of clothes that no longer fit prove it. 

The best way to describe this last month would be to say this has been the month you found your voice.  Sure you have been "talking" to us for awhile but lately you have seemed to be fascinated by the sound of your own voice. You are also experimenting all the things your voice can do.  You grunt, giggle, and make noises we have no idea how to describe.  You also love working on that upper register of yours and let out high pitched screams that just delight you.  By far your sweetest sound is the sigh you give while you are eating or when you are falling asleep in our arms. 

You are a man on the move now.  While you can't crawl yet, you are trying so hard.  You will get on your stomach and pull yourself on the floor with all your might.  You might start the night in the middle of the crib but wake up in any corner or off to either side. You also roll all the time, mainly from your back to your stomach.  We watch you on the video monitor when you are asleep in your crib and you turn on your side and stomach all the time.  We can't really blame you as your mom is a side sleeper as well.

Because you are sitting up more now, we play with lots and lots of toys.  You are still obsessed with any and all fabrics, especially if they can go in your mouth.  You are such a happy baby.  You really do treat the world as your playground and we are ok with that.  It is so much fun to expose you to new things and watch your reaction.  Your dad still gets the biggest laughs from you, especially when he walks in the door at the end of the day.  Your face lights up and you smile from ear to ear, it is amazing to watch. 

While it is hard for us at times to watch you grow up so quickly, it is also just so much fun.  Thanks for bringing us along for the ride. 

Love, Mommy and Daddy

 Trying so hard to crawl!

Jax's Baptism

This post is overdue.  Last Sunday we had Jax's Baptism.  It was such a special day and Jax is so blessed to have so many family members that came to share that special day with him.  We had a friend, Scott Duthie, take pictures for us and he captured so many wonderful moments.  It is nice to be able to look back and see everyone that was there and actually be in a few pictures myself!  Scott took so many pictures, over 800 actually, and so I am going to include many pictures below.  Most do not need a caption as the picture says everything.  

Mikey and Meme

Jax's Godparents Kevin and Genny

Madre and Papa Bear

It was almost five years to the date that we got married in this same church.

My mom said that when she saw Jasper and I walk down the aisle with Jax she got teary eyed thinking that the last time we walked down this aisle was when we got married.

 

The Ward boys

I love these pictures

After the service we headed back to our house where we had a reception. 

Jax with his Great Grandmothers.  I was so happy that they were both able to make it.

Gey gave Jax his first bible with the date of his baptism written inside.

Jax was such a happy baby all day.  I wonder if he knew the party was all about him?

Jax and Ms. Ava.  They couldn't look at the camera because my dad was singing 

and dancing off to the side to entertain them.

By the end of the party, Jax was exhausted as it was way past his nap time. 

Luckily he was able to nap on me while Jasper opened his gifts. 

Jac received his first St. X apparel.  Never to young to get them started.

It was such a special day and made even more special by all those that were able to come and share it with us. Jax is so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family in his life.