JAMSquared

Category Archives: Family & Friends

4 months 1 week old

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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

Trip to Midland

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As promised, here are pictures from our trip to Midland last weekend. It was a very busy weekend.

My Dad had so much fun at the breakfast table, he ended up being the last one to change from his pajamas.

Jessica and her Papa

My sister wouldn’t want to see the other picture I snapped of her and Cameron.

Cameron and his Mama

After breakfast, we all hung out. Cameron found a giant foam hand that he immensely enjoyed. Of course, it made all the Longhorn fans happy, especially since my sister is an Aggie through and through.

Longhorn Cameron

I can’t wait until all the kiddos are old enough to play together. It will be so much fun. Growing up, I never really spent much time with my cousins. Partly, because I didn’t have many, two on my Dad’s side and three on my Mom’s side. And partly because none of them traveled and they lived a ways away from us. So I think it is great, that we all live close enough to see each other often and that we’re all willing to travel.

Cameron and Aspen Playing

After lunch on Saturday, we went over to James’ parents house and visited with them a bit.

Jessica and her Grandpa

Then we stopped by his grandparents for a little while. His grandparents will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary in September. Isn’t that exciting? Yep, Jessica has her thumb in her mouth. I think it is so cute how she covers up her nose with her fingers when she does that.

Great-Granny and Jessica

We got back to my parents house right as everyone was leaving to go on a walk. We walked to the playground near the elementary school I attended. That brought back memories. We used to walk home from school. Aspen and Cameron enjoyed the swing. I didn’t bring Jessica’s coat (I didn’t realize we were walking to the playground) and so she stayed tucked under the blanket in her car seat/stroller.

Aspen Swinging

Cameron Swinging

Mom and Dad with their dogs Dixie and Daisy

I can’t wait until the kiddos become cheesers. Then Julia won’t be the only one smiling. Plus it will be so much easier to get them to all look at the camera.

Julia and Aspen

On Sunday before church, my Mom got to hold all the grandbabies for a photo shoot, similar to the one my Dad experienced at Christmas. It was so cute how Cameron had his arm around Aspen.

Cameron, Aspen, Jessica, Nanny and Trevor

Then we tried to get all four of them on the recliner, which was a tad difficult. We should have stuck with the loveseat from my Mom’s photo shoot.

Trevor, Cameron, Aspen, and Jessica

Jessica did pretty good in the car both ways. The way up would have been faster if we had realized all it took was a light on once it got dark outside to make Jessica happy.

Happy 30th Anniversary Mom & Dad!

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My parents have a great marriage. They show affection for one another. They talk with each other, not to each other (big difference). They even work together in their own accounting practice. I’d like to think that James and I have the kind of marriage they do. Happy 30th Anniversary Mom & Dad! Here’s to another 30 years.

Cutting the Cake at their Wedding Reception

Attending a Wedding in 2006

My sister, brother and I surprised them by going to Midland last weekend. We really got them good. Jason called them up and said he was planning to stop by on his way to Santa Fe for a work function, a total fib. He was the decoy to make sure they would be home. Sarah took care of finding a collage picture frame that she put photos of the grandkids in and I ordered a cake and some food for dinner Saturday night. Friday, Sarah and I coordinated arriving in Midland at about the same time. Jason arrived earlier and then went to visit a friend. We all met at a nearby parking lot so we could then arrive at the house at the same time. Jason knocked on the door. My Mom came to answer it and tell Jason she  had left it unlocked for him. When she opened the door, she kinda got this dumbfounded expression on her face. My Dad then walked up and he had the same expression. The surprise was a total success. Saturday night after the grandkids went to bed, we brought out the cake, which I had picked up earlier (I was impressed with how it turned out considering I ordered it over the phone), and the gift. I think we succeeded in making my parents feel pretty special.

The Happy Couple

Cake from HEB

Opening Card and Gift

Here’s the card I made for them. I used the previous Saturday’s Sketch for You to Try. It also meets the Hero Arts flower challenge.

Anniversary Card

Stamps: Hero Arts Clear Design May (images in 3 circles), Clear Design Number Seven (30 in exterior sentiment); Stampin’ Up Congrats, In My Thoughts (inside message), All-Year Cheer III (inside message)
Cardstock: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Garden Green, So Saffron
Designer Paper: Stampin’ Up Prints Certainly Celery
Ink: Stampin’ Up Garden Green, Certainly Celery
Markers: Stampin’ Up Chocolate Chip, Garden Green, Rose Red, Ballet Blue, So Saffron; atYou Spice Clear
Accessories: Stampin’ Up So Saffron grosgrain ribbon; dimensionals (center circle)
Tools: colored pencils; Stampin’ Up scallop border punch; Nestabilites Standard Circles Large, Classic Scalloped Circles Large

Jessica’s Baptism

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James and I attend Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church. We found our church while we were engaged and searching for a church that would fulfill both of our desires for a church. Our search consisted of attending numerous Christian churches. It was difficult as James was raised in a Baptist church and I grew up in a Catholic church, two Christian churches on opposite ends of the spectrum. After our marriage, which was performed by a minister friend of the family, we joined SHPC. We have not been the most consistent attendees of church, but we both think it is something important for our children (Jessica won’t be an only child) and will become more frequent church-goers.

One of the most important things for me when we were searching for a church, was infant baptism. The Baptism of children witnesses to the truth that God’s love claims people before they are able to respond in faith. Baptism in the Presbyterian Church, usually occurs during infancy, though a person may be baptized at any age. Parents bring their baby to church, where they publicly declare their desire that he or she be baptized. When an infant or child is baptized the church commits itself to nurture the child in faith. When adults are baptized they make a public profession of faith. The water that is used symbolizes three accounts from the Bible’s Old Testament: the waters of creation, the flood described in the story of Noah, and the Hebrews’ escape from slavery in Egypt by crossing the Red Sea. Unlike some denominations, Presbyterians do not require a person to be entirely immersed in water during baptism. Baptism is received only once. Its effect is not tied to the moment when it is administered, for it signifies the beginning of life in Christ, not its completion. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) believes that persons of other denominations are part of one body of Christian believers; therefore, it recognizes and accepts baptisms by other Christian churches.

Jessica’s baptism was performed Sunday, January 31st by Rev. Larry Coulter at SHPC. It was a very beautiful time in Jessica’s life. She did great. The unfamiliar situation didn’t cause her any distress.

Before the Service

James and Jessica at the Front of the Church

Jessica with her Parents

Rev. Larry Coulter and Jessica

Being Baptized

After being baptized, Pastor Larry carried Jessica around the sanctuary so that the members of the church could see the child they were committing to nurture in faith.

Introducing Newest Member to Congregation

After the end of the church service, we all returned to our house for a little brunch. I had to have a picture of Jessica with all of her cousins: Dawson, James’ sister’s son and the oldest cousin at 9 years old; Cameron, my sister’s oldest son; Trevor, my sister’s youngest son and the youngest cousin (just 3 weeks younger than Jessica); and Aspen, my brother’s daughter.

Trevor, Cameron, Dawson, Jessica and Aspen

Trevor, Cameron, Dawson, Jessica and Aspen

Trevor, Cameron, Dawson, Jessica and Aspen

We also got a number of photos of Jessica posing in her baptism gown. She is such a cutie, don’t you think?

Beautiful Jessica

Baptism Beautie

Kristy, thank you for being the lovely photographer. I could not have captured this moment without you.