Jack, a photo story

Back in my 4-H days, we learned to snap series of pictures that together told a "photo story." Last night at dinner, it just so happened I had the camera in hand to capture one such photo story, a typical night with the kid, really. You just never know what is coming down the pipe with him and sometimes your best approach is to sit back and watch it all unfold. I'm pretty sure he thought no one was paying any attention. If there's one word that describes this kid it's DETERMINED!

Mission accomplished. And then it was time to PARTY!

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!) :)


He belongs to Jesus

Well, he always has but yesterday we stood before our family and friends and made it official as we dedicated Jack Emery to the Lord.  In doing so, we promised to raise him up in way that honors God and teach him to know and love the Lord.  We were thrilled to be able to have our Senior Pastor Richard Dahlstrom perform the dedication.

 Graham shared the meaning of the name "Jack" (God is gracious) and also a verse that has been particularly meaningful to him in recent months. "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13. This is our prayer for our sweet boy that he would know the JOY and PEACE that is found in Christ alone. The kids were all well-behaved on stage. Jack was a bit skeptical when Richard held him but otherwise all went well. At one point Isla even ran across the stage to tickle Jack and try to make it smile (that girl - she doesn't love the spotlight or anything). :)

My heart just overflows with love for this dear boy who God saw fit to add to our family. His smile and cheer melts me! 

 After the service, family gathered at my in-laws for a BBQ. Even the weather cooperated and it was rather summer-like. 

We had chicken burgers and kale salad and watermelon and corn...

 ...and HOMEMADE ICE CREAM. Which the kids hated. Obviously.

It was so wonderful to be surrounded by family who supports us in our commitment to raise Jack in a Christ-centered home. I feel beyond blessed that Graham and I both come from families that know and love the Lord and am honored (and overwhelmed!) to carry on the legacy of building such a home for our kids. 

 Wow, when did we grow up and have 3 kids? Sometimes I see pictures of our family and wonder how this happened! :)

 Baby Jack,

May you know the abundant love and grace that is in Christ Jesus. May you grow to love the Lord with all your heart and follow him all your days. And may you forgive us as your parents when we make mistakes, which I can assure you we will do. May you know peace and joy and hope. We love you to pieces sweet boy! 

Jack's Half Birthday

I must confess were in not for my mother, there is high likelihood I would have forgotten about Jack's Half Birthday altogether. *GASP!* But thanks to her lovely Facebook greeting, the day was saved and we "celebrated" him for the last 4 hours of daylight. (We'd been out of town and I wasn't watching the calendar...what can I say?) 

 We were enroute home from Eastern WA and made a break for the Kirkland waterfront to enjoy the gorgeous 70 degree day. Golly gee if we ever successfully move and don't end up in Kirkland, I'm going to be torn. I love it downtown!

I can't seem to kiss the boy enough!

6 months!? How could that possibly be?

I'm not the only one who can't keep her lips (or teeth?) off that kid!

Happy Half Birthday Baby Jack!