Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Grovin' and the Pumpkin Patch



This week Jack went to the Grove with Darlin', the Granddude, Uncle Dave, Tom and me. He discovered how much more fun it is to sit in a grown up chair and how little sleep a baby actually needs when there's a party going on. To keep him from suffering from post-tramatic social let down disorder we tried to keep up the tempo this week by visiting the pumpkin patch.

It's hilarious to see the difference from just last year when we propped Jack up on some pumpkins to yesterday when I had to get a few quick shots before he took off after an unsuspecting 15 month old.Here ya go -
2007

2008

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Jack Walks!

It has been a long time since I last posted. Sorry about that. We have been knee deep in football season (Hotty Toddy!) and the debate and Tom's new job and oh yea Jack is walking!! He goes about 7-8 steps at a time now and he can really move if there is a cat within his sight!

 Whitefoot, Sierra, and Fiona are favorite targets of his affectionate claw like grasp, love bites and headbutts. Only Whitefoot is slow enough to get caught occasionally. The dogs are also recipients of Jack's somewhat overly affectionate activities. Maybelle loves it but Barney has to move from couch to couch just trying to find a peaceful place to nap away from the terrorizing, I mean totally adorable, 14 month old. I'm going to post a video later of Jack and Maybelle having a love-in.

This football season (woohoo the rebels have a winning record so far, 3-2) Jack went to the Ole Miss vs. Samford game and sat in the seats where his great-granfather sat many years ago. He is the 4th generation to sit in Row 39 Section E at Vaught-Hemingway. We only made it a quarter because it was hot and Jack was climbing up and down the rows and trying to eat popcorn and peanut shells off the floor - eww! Next time we'll stay longer because I think he would really love to hear the band. He still LOVES music and is now into playing the drums on his stomach, knees, mine or Tom's chest, his high chair, basically anywhere that makes a cool noise.

Because it is fall (read football season) Jack has had lots of visitors - Baby James Allen, Jay & Shelly, Baby (cousin) Annie, Great Aunt Susan, cousins Pep, Holley and Suannah and Wes, cousins Terral and Carter, Aunt Celia, cousins Meg and Izzy, Great Aunt Celia, cousins Sherm and Wendy, Auntie Katie, DeMatt and his sister Betsy, Aunt Lea and Uncle Carter, and Jill and Hallie Lane. This weekend Uncle Dave, Darlin' and the Granddude are coming to town. It should be a good time!

Jack still loves playing outside especially on his new sand/water table from Darlin' and the granddude but he is mosquito bait so we only play out there early in the morning to keep him from getting eaten up. Aunt Lea and Uncle Carter have been visiting a lot lately. Baby Sam is only a few weeks away and we are all excited to meet the little guy.

I'll post pics later. I don't really know how to post them so they look cool. I'm envious of my friends baby's blog (http://meurrier.blogspot.com/) I wish I had the time/inclination to figure out how to make Jack's look that neat. Oh well.

Maybe after football season!
Go Rebs! Who DAT! --Elizabeth

Monday, August 18, 2008

Punta Mita Mach 2


We all went down to Punta Mita Mexcio (thanks Celia!!) for a week. Friends and family had a great time together and with Jack! He swam in the Pacific Ocean, took naps on the beach, and enjoyed being adored by all in the Villa.
Jack loved the toy box on the Manzanilla Beach.

Ah the luxury of the palapa.


Swimming in the Pacific Ocean.







Jack and Darlin'







Monday, July 21, 2008

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

LA here we come


Tom went to a music festival in W. Virginia so Jack and I took our first solo road trip to Mobile last weekend. We stopped on the way to visit with Aunt Susan in Meridian. We enjoyed visiting with her and will stop there again. She gave us some great pictures of Tom when he was a baby and you can really see how much Jack looks like him. We got to Mobile about 6:30 and ate dinner with Darlin', the Granddude and Grand-Nana. The shrimp were great and Darlin' and the Granddude's house is looking wonderful since the renovation. Uncle Dave and Auntie Shannon came over to visit Friday night and Jack didn't go to sleep until after 11! He loved having an audience and put on quite a show dancing, laughing and showing off his teeth. On Saturday, Jack hung out on the porch with the Granddude and Darlin' and after a visit from Uncle Dave he finally took a nap. When he woke up he had a practice birthday cake with bananas, yogurt, and cream cheese icing. He did a great job feeding himself and really enjoyed the cake! Then we went shopping with Darlin' to look for stuff for Jack's birthday party. We got trapped in the party city for about 2 hours during a torrential rain storm. We finally gave up and got a little wet but Jack got a balloon for being such a good shopper and didn't mind the rain too much. Saturday night, Uncle Dave and Auntie Shannon came over again to visit and eat Darlin's fried okra - yummy!


Sunday we went to Callahan's for brunch. We took over the back room because there where so many of us - Darlin, the Granddude, Grand-Nana, Uncle Dave and Auntie Shannon, Aunt Gail, John, Daniel, Matthew, Adrian, Amy and Jack Boyes, and Coco her son and his cousin!! We were loud and having fun. Even though Jack hadn't napped he did great and enjoyed getting to see all the people at Callahan's. He was exhausted when we left though and fell asleep before we even got on Government Street! We all took naps when we got home and took it easy for the rest of the afternoon. Sunday night Jack and I went over to the Boyes' hose for dinner. Jack had a great time playing with Jack Boyes and I got a chance to catch up with Adrian and Amy. Adrian cooked us an excellent dinner and Jack ate macaroni and cheese for the first time. He loved it so much that he ate it with both hands shovel-style!! Good times!!
Monday morning Jack and I got up and started getting ready to head back to Oxford via Jackson. We got one more visit in with Nana and got to see Auntie Katie briefly before she went to work. Jack fell asleep in the car before we got to HWY 98 and he slept all the way to Collins. We made it to Holly and Bucky's for a pit stop in Jackson and had a wonderful lunch with Holly, Maggie and the dogs - Sierra, Callie, and Lulu - 3 of the best dogs I have EVER been around. Holly and Maggie gave Jack some great early birthday gifts and we had a wonderful time visiting with them and seeing the Crystal's beautiful house. Then we got back on the road and Jack fell asleep again before we got on the interstate. He slept to Grenada and was happy until we got between Water Valley and Oxford and then he was really ready to get out of the car and see his dad. Tom had a wonderful dinner prepared for us when we arrived and Jack fell asleep no crying at ALL by 9:00. Today was a little different story as Jack was coming off his social high. He had a little trouble napping but this afternoon he was happy in the grocery store, where he waved and smiled and danced through the whole store!

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Monday, July 7, 2008

HIll Country Picnic

Jack had a great time at his first Hill Country Picnic! The weather was pretty cool and even though we got rained a little each day he still enjoyed The Fife and Drum Band, Afrissippi, Blue Mountain, T Model, Rocket 88 and more. He loved hanging out with Aunt Lea and Uncle Carter! Uncle Carter taught him how to cook chicken legs and Aunt Lea shared a snowball with him. Jack also enjoyed seeing Maggie and Steve and using Maggie's cooler as a podium as he danced to all the great music. As predicted he enjoyed the picnic immensely! Next year we're getting an RV so we can stay all weekend.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Monday, June 30, 2008

Jack is gearing up for the Hill Country picnic this weekend. It will be his first (but last year he went in utero) trip and he is practicing his dance moves and drumming techniques. He absolutely loves music and being outside so festivals are right up his alley. It also helps that Aunt Lea and Uncle Carter are going to meet us there! We will upload photos to show y'all how much fun we all had soon.
In the meantime enjoy these photos of Jack hanging out in the yard, chilling on the deck, playing with his girlfriend Georgeanna at our house and at her birthday party, eating a whole plate of eggs at Big Bad Breakfast, and hanging in the grove with his pal, Amos Henry. Those two are gonna be trouble one day!

Monday, June 23, 2008

Dauphin Island Photos

Dauphin Island Continued

On saturday the Granddude arrived and we all hung out at the pool. Jack went swimming with Auntie Katie, Tom and me. We went down to the beach for sunset and then had dinner together. Then on Sunday we went to Mobile and had dinner with Nana, Auntie Shannon, the Granddude, and Auntie Katie. It was lots of fun. Jack was great on the ride home and stayed asleep from the car seat to the bed. He was one worn out baby.

Saturday, May 31, 2008

First Trip to Dauphin Island


On Thursday we headed down to Dauphin Island for a long weekend. Eagerly anticipated by Darlin' and Auntie Katie Jack's arrival in L.A (Lower Alabama for those of you who may be confused). was circled on calendars and heralded to all baby worshippers. After settling in Thursday night, we got up Friday morning and headed to the pool. Jack floated in his float in the same pool that I have been swimming in for the past 34 years. There is a picture of me in this pool in a baby float when I was barely 8 weeks old. Now Jack is floating in it!
After a morning nap we headed down to the beach. Jack loved the sand, in fact he ate quite a it of it and he got all the way in the Gulf of Mexico for the first time. he wasn't sure about the waves at first but after some gentle reassurance he decided it must be ok. His favorite thing was to hang out and splash in his baby pool under the umbrella though. Friday evening Darlin' and Auntie Katie arrived. Jack played with the laughing pig Darlin' brought and then we watched the sunset on the beach. We ate dinner together and Jack fell asleep! Today we have been to the pool and plan to go to the beach this afternoon. Granddude is on the way.

Friday, May 30, 2008

Springtime travels and visits


Jack has had an eventful spring. Auntie Katie came to visit at the tail end of winter and brought with her some snow?! It was brief but Barney the dog enjoyed catching snowballs in his mouth and we all walked around with our mouths hanging open at snow in Mississippi in March. Later that month we traveled down to Mobile for Easter. Jack was a hit (again) at All Saints.
We had a nice egg hunt at Granny's afterward and headed back up to Oxford via Quitman.
Jack loves being a the cabin.
He especially loves being outside so swinging on the porch swings at Pinehaven makes him really happy.
In April we went down to Destin for the fifth annual Boondoggle. We were excited for Jack to take his first trip to the Gulf Beach and to see all of our friends. The weather was wonderful and sunny if a little chilly but we all spent time on the beach and around the beach house having fun, cooking and playing. Jack loved the beach and had fun playing with Max, Annabelle, James, Bonnie, Joey, Holley, Bucky, Shelly, and Jay. He also took wonderful naps and slept many hours each night as he completely exhausted himself playing each day. It was a wonderful trip.
At the end of April we went to Double Decker and Jack enjoyed being in the new backpack and hung out like a champ for almost five hours.
Between Double Decker and Jazz Fest Jack began to reallycrawl. A few scoots at first but then getting going to something to pull up on or something dangerous or dirty!!

The next week we went down to New Orleans for Jazz Fest! Jack stayed with the Hickman's in Mandeville and Tom and I went back and forth across the lake at least a dozen times. Jack had a good time in the Kids Tent especially seeing the Girls Choir from South Africa with Auntie Katie and Frank. He ate some sweet potato pone, spinach and artichoke casserole and a Mango Freeze. He also really liked the Fais Do Do stage and the Rosemint Tea. We went to Audubon Zoo with Darlin' and Griswald'd the whole thing in about 45 minutes. Still he saw elephants, giraffes, monkeys, pelicans, a jaguar, flamingos, and rode in the carousel. Not bad. Later we had dinner at Frankie and Johnny's and ran into Bonnie and Joey. Whew what a Saturday! On Sunday Jack stayed home with Darlin', Aunt Janet, Uncle Garland, Brooks and Mary Cathrine. On Monday we went to brunch with Auntie Katie and Aunt Janet, and then drove back to Oxford. Tired but happy about our travels.

These last few weeks Jack has been perfecting his crawling. He can stand up in his crib, climb up the deck stairs, loves and hugs on the pets, and points for things he wants. He pulls up on everything and likes to beat his hands on hard surfaces, drumming style. Jack nods his head and really gets the beat going when Tom plays guitar. He claps his hands to play patty cake and can do all the activities in the Pat the Bunny book. He's been out and about in Oxford too. Making trips to the Balcony at City Grocery, the Farmer's Market, to the Solomon's for a birthday party and to the Cleary Country Club for Memorial Day.


Saturday, April 5, 2008

No Napping Jack

Team Jesus

Jack was christened in All Saints Episcopal Church in Mobile, the same church where we were married. Godparents are Katie Anderson, Rebecca Lauck-Cleary, Joey Austin and Carter Speed.

Most folks at the church said Jack was the coolest and cutest baby to ever be baptized there.
Of course.



















Jack in his christening "gown."
Photo by Bruce Newman.













A font is not just a typeface. Who knew?


With the godmothers

Katie & Jack Becca & Jack


With the godfathers:


Carter & Jack Joey & Jack



Marlon Brando, as Vito Corleone, with a cat.







Jack & Uncle Dave

Feliz Navidad


In December, Jack went to Mexico.

Gobble Gobble


Thanksgiving at Lake Pickwick with the Anderson family was fun. It rained, we fished, we howled at the moon by the campfire and we watched the Ole Miss Rebels blow a fourth quarter lead to lose to the lowly Miss. State Bulldogs in the Egg Bowl.

May The Force Be With You
























































Cry? There is no cry. Poo or poo not.

Sip & See

In October, Aunt Celia, Aunt Lea & Cousin Terral gave a "Sip & See" party for Jack at the Downtown Grill in Oxford. That means they all slammed wine and oohed and ahhed over Jack in a frilly suit.

Here are some photos:


Baby Jack & Cousin Terral






Auntie Katie & Baby Jack, looking confused.

The Great Pumpkin

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Jack Goes To The Grove




Jacks' first trip to the Grove came a few weeks into a(nother) dismal season by the Ole Miss Rebels. It didn't stop him from rocking the grove in a red & blue antique pram. The ladies loved him. Dudes too.