JAMSquared

The first day of Spring is March 20th, which is still 9 days away, but I think spring has arrived early here in Austin. The skies are blue. Birds are chirping. Trees are blossoming. And the temperature is in the mid to upper-seventies. If that doesn’t say spring, I don’t know what does.

On Tuesday, Jessica tried out her new sun hat on our walk. I let her swing at the playground. She is just too cute. She fell asleep on the way back home.

On the Swing, 3/9/10

Asleep in the Stroller, 3/9/10

Today on our walk, a blue jay flew across my path. Now, I love fall and winter, but this week the earth just seems to be awakening and I am reveling in it.

Tree Blossoms, 3/9/10

Tree Blossoms Up Close, 3/9/10

A baby investigates new things by putting them in her mouth. Jessica definitely is discovering new things everyday. This last week or so while she has been sick and very congested, her super seat has been great. It has allowed her to get some much needed playtime, but still be upright. I shot the below video on Thursday.

Six years ago today, James and I exchanged our wedding vows. He is the world’s best husband. He makes me smile when I am sad. He makes me laugh pretty much everyday. He holds me close and I feel loved.

It may only be six years of marriage, but we’ve been together for a lot longer. We started dating in June 1997, the summer before his senior year of high school and my junior year of high school. My friend Jillan was hosting an end-of-school pool party and she invited some of her boyfriend-at-the-time’s friends, James being one of them. We started talking and really hit if off.

Robert E. Lee HS Homecoming, Fall 1997

Except for about 9 months starting the second semester of my senior year of high school, we dated from the time we first met until James proposed September 26, 2003. I would have liked a fall wedding (my favorite season), but I didn’t want to wait a whole year to get married, so we were married February 28, 2004.

Cutting the Cake at our Wedding Reception

On Our Honeymoon

We have tried to take a trip every year since we were married. Typically, a picture from that year’s trip accompanied our Christmas card. We splurged in 2008 and went to the French Polynesian islands of Moorea and Bora Bora. It is my favorite trip so far.

Moorea Lagoon, Nov. 2008

I’m really pleased with how the card I made for James turned out. He got a big smile on his face when I gave it to him. It uses the Memories of Time sketch challenge. I printed the sentiment out with my computer. I’ve been doing a lot of coloring lately on my cards and I want to get some high-quality colored pencils.

We Make a DINO-MITE Pair!

Stamps: C.C. Designs Eric and Chrissy Go Prehistoric
Cardstock: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Really Rust, Close to Cocoa
Ink: Stampin’ Up Bashful Blue, Wild Wasabi, Basic Brown; Stazon Jet Black
Markers: Stampin’ Up Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Really Rust, Blush Blossom, Barely Banana, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink
Accessories: Stampin’ Up twill ribbon; dimensionals
Tools/Techniques: cotton ball sponged background

Well, I meant to do this post last week, but I got busy and forgot. Jessica turned 4 months old last Tuesday. We visited the pediatrician for her shots and well-check. She weighed 14 pounds 8 ounces (75%), measured 26 inches tall (90-97%), and had a head circumference of 42.5 centimeters (90%). The pediatrician was pleased with Jessica’s growth and said it was no longer necessary to wake and feed her in the middle of the night (well the 11:30 or midnight feeding before I went to bed), so if she wants to sleep 12 hours a night she can go right ahead. Since her appointment, she has slept about 12 hours a night and even let her parents sleep in until 10 AM on Saturday. I woke up and thought my goodness, maybe I should have set my alarm, but I went into her room and found her awake sucking on her thumb. I’m not sure if she was asleep the whole time or she woke up and just lay in her crib, but either way she didn’t make a peep.

Jessica and her Mommy, 2/6/10

Happy Jessica, 2/9/10

Jessica’s hand-eye coordination seems to be really improving. She grabs at her toys and holds onto them. She even works intently at the straps of her super seat. You can also see the results of her drool. Can’t be a baby without drool, right?

Jessica Concentrating, 2/9/10

Smiling Jessica, 2/10/10

Playting with the Butterfly, 2/17/10

She also is starting to put everything in her mouth: toys, the burp cloth, bibs, and of course her thumb and fingers.

Trying to Eat the Elephant, 2/18/10

Model Jessica, 2/18/10

Jessica’s hair is getting long. In the back, it is definitely to her shoulders. I noticed some flaky scalp on Saturday, so I worked in some baby oil. How much actually made it to her scalp, I’m not sure, but it sure made giving her a spiky hair do fun.

Spiky Hair, 2/20/10

Sunday was beautiful weather. Austin had a high of 77°F. We walked to the nearby Which Wich for lunch and then to the park. Jessica enjoyed the swing, but I think she enjoyed going down the slide with Daddy even more.

Chilling in the Swing, 2/21/10

Going Down the Slide with Daddy, 2/21/10

From a gorgeous spring-like day on Sunday to snow today. Yes, snow. Probably less than 1 inch and of course, it didn’t stick to the sidewalks or street, but snow nonetheless. And big flakes. I took Jessica outside for a few minutes so she could experience her first snow.

Amazed at the Snow, 2/23/10

Jessica has recently took to blowing bubbles. She especially loves it if you blow bubbles too. It is the cutest thing. In this video, James is blowing bubbles for her as she sits on James’ Mom’s lap. It was taken last weekend.