First Haircut!

Us Croziers have hair issues. Crazy hair and lots of it. I've always adored Jack's hair in particular and am told quite often it looks like the fuzz on a baby chick. I love how it used to stick straight up when it was shorter and if I could reverse time, I'd somehow make it do that again. It's been getting longer and longer and inching closer and to his little eyes so I finally decided it was time. But I'm all talk and when it came down to it, I couldn't bring myself to cut any off the top. That could be partially due to the fact that he would. not. hold. still. I used to liken feeding him to breastfeeding a rattle snake, always squirming and tearing around like crazy. And cutting his hair? It wasn't much different except I was yielding a sharp object that had the capacity to gauge his eyes out. 

 We did it though and he's looking mighty dapper these days. As long as you squint....

Partying like Penguins

 Oh my word! How did this happen? My baby is pictured there sitting behind a cake with a candle in it. A FIRST BIRTHDAY CAKE!!! Gah. I'm feeling all weepy today but I'll try and spare you. I really don't know where the time went.



We had a very small gathering on Saturday with my sister and her family and my parents to celebrate.

Jack was still under the weather (isn't he always) and was a bit shy with all the attention but eventually warmed up to his new stacking cups and water bottle. 

 The boy loves meat and so I served a lunch of BBQ pork sandwiches, slaw and grapes along with hot cider. He ate three servings of meat!!

We took a party intermission after lunch so the birthday boy could take a nap and the rest of us carved pumpkins.



 The kids were uber-creative with their carving requests. Both Emma and Gid wanted the stem cutout to be the shape of a fish. Good thing I was assigned to help Isla!!!!! She just wanted a simple heart. 

Then she requested heart eyes and a heart mouth. I drew the line when she asked for heart eyelashes...this is about as artistic as I get, folks!



Grandma asked Emma if she wanted a happy or sad face. She said a sad face. "I LOVE sad!!" I'm trying not to read into that one too hard. I gotta say, I sort of love her sad pumpkin.

When Jack woke up, it was cake time! It wasn't hard to figure out what kind of cake to request for the boy. I have never seen penguins flock to a kid but if you ever want a good show, take Jack to the zoo. They just LOVE him and it's obvious the feeling is mutual. He has this adorable penguin call that brings them all a'flocking. 

My mom made these ADORABLE cakes. (Golly, I'm so glad I'm learning to delegate!)



Jack was as impressed as the rest of us and didn't hesitate to dive in.

Pardon ALL the pictures but it was his first birthday.

He couldn't figure out when we kept pulling it away whenever he got close.

Whoops! That one was supposed to be for the adults...

He knows when he sees a good thing.

Classic one-year-old playing with fire.

And then the moment he'd been waiting for!

I'm not gonna lie. It was awesome watching him dive in with both hands. I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have eaten that whole cake had we not cut him off after about 10 minutes of straight sugar.

Needless to say, he was up until 9 PM (but we didn't care because we were out on a date!) :)


Jack 12 Months

 My baby is 12 months and it's like he grew up overnight!

-first he was scooting

-then sitting up by himself in his pack 'n play

-and then crawling (which he's REALLY pumped about)

-and now pulling himself up on EVERYTHING

-cruising the furniture

-and walking with the assistance of this dinosaur push toy

-he would do this all day (ALL DAY!)

-but mommy and daddy aren't always available to rescue him from furniture obstacles

-the other day he was walking with it and turned and waved at me and said "bye bye!"

-I froze.

-and then gushed when I finally accepted the fact that he's no longer a baby

-as you can see, he was less than impressed with our raspberry birthday pancake

-during the house hunt process, he survived mostly on string cheese, bananas and applesauce, which we could toss at him in the car between home tours

-also sunbutter sandwiches (he can put away a whole one!)

-he's weaning

-it was probably time as he was MUCH more excited about the bottles of pumped milk I'd take out of my work bag than me (I guess he wasn't getting much...)

-he's been sick again, always sick it seems

-but he's so engaging

-and after living here has a special bond with Grandma Crozier (he often wants her over me!)

-loves the Wheels on the Bus song

-HATES diaper changes

-holds hands with Emma in the car and they crack each other up

-uhh, in case you didn't notice HIS LEGS, here is a close up:

LOVE!!!!

Dear Jack

 A very Happy Birthday to the sweetest 1 year old in all the world - our SON! I remember so well that afternoon a year ago today when you made your entrance to the world and I heard the words "It's a boy!" Don't ever tell anyone this, but I'm pretty sure there were tears in your father's eyes. You were a prayed for, longed for, hoped for addition to our family and we can't imagine our lives without you. 

 I struggle to put it to words other than to say that you are such a gift to your daddy and I, a ray of sunshine and a complete joy every single day. We waited expectantly for your arrival at the close of a pretty rough season for us. This year has been a series of big change after big change and your life has brought us so much laughter and warmth. You light up the room with your smiles and giggles and are absolutely adored by every person in this family.

I love your fierce determination to get in any and every body of water in sight, now matter how cold. You can't get enough of baths and your latest thrill is standing in the tub and playing with the faucets. This last month you have kicked it into high gear with all the new things you are learning. You are finally crawling, pulling yourself up, cruising and walking around with push toys. You are making up for lost time and are on the move ALL THE TIME. 

You and your daddy have a pretty special bond. You crawl quickly to the door to greet him when you hear his voice at the end of a long work day. The two of you giggle and crack each other up to no end. He was SO thrilled when you joined our family and I know the years ahead are going to be a lot of fun with all the "manly" stuff you guys will do.

Oh and Jack, I can't get enough of you either. I never knew how much I needed a boy until you entered my world. There is something incredible about the relationship between a mother and her son. This year has not been an easy one for me but I would do it twelve times over again and then twelve times more because it means I get to spend my life with your sweet face.

In the years that lie ahead, we pray that your sweet spirit would continue to light up the room wherever you are. We pray that you would grow to be a strong leader and a man of humility and integrity. We pray that you would love the Lord with all your heart and be open to whatever He has in store for you. You are a treasure, a blessing and your life is so needed in our family. We love you so very, very much Jack Attack!

 

Happy 1st Birthday!

 

Love,

Mom and Dad

 



Emma 37 Months



Thoughts on Emma Boo:

-oh so very affectionate!

-loves being the oldest at home for a few hours of the day

 -having full on conversations (when did this happen!)

-thinks most movies are scary

-but LOVES Daniel Tiger

-favorite book: some Sesame Street one where Ernie gets scared

 -has the most beautiful long hair in all the land

-has the most odd sleeping habits

-we find her in the hall about twice a week

-and now she's taken to the stairs

-don't you fear! those yellow feet sticking out belong to Mickey and she tells me she was holding on to him so she wouldn't fall down the stairs

-she loves the outdoors and riding the tricycle on the back patio (rain or shine!)

-blowing bubbles is pretty fun too

-has figured out what yanks her sister's chain and bugs her OFTEN (pushing, hitting her, running into her room when she's trying to get alone time and flicking the lights on or off....)

-favorite foods: yogurt, salami and cereal

-loves cooking with me and I can't go in the kitchen without her little voice asking "can I help you?" as she scoots a chair up to the counter 

-favorite activities: reading stories, listening to Blythe and Barney stories (told by Grandma Crozier or Daddy) and sneaking chocolate chips or time on my iPhone from behind the piano in the living room...

-she loves water, boats and the latest...stand up paddleboarding!