The weekend!

I think this picture is so cute - good action shot. Jack likes kicking the ball around.

Jack is always finding new things to do on the swing set...
...Couldn't just climb up the ladder in the back!

Always a good time on the spiral slide!

The tunnel slide is probably Jack's favorite. We tried the swings again but he just isn't interested. I think he would rather run around - fine with us!

It's pretty special if Jack WANTS to hold your hand.

A dear friend came to town and we ate at a nice restaurant (I called ahead to see if they even had highchairs, I've never seen young kids there before). Jack did very well! They can even make grilled cheese look fancy ;)

Buddies!

We walk over to GG's at least once a week. Once we arrive Jack has a routine. Right away he insists on eating a banana. Then he empties all the lotion bottles out of the basket and takes each one to GG. Finally he plays on with/on the walker. Notice the whistle around his neck, he LOVES to wear his whistle! He can't figure out how it works so he just puts it in his mouth and makes a noise!!

My FAVORITE picture from the weekend!

Kitchen update: Things are coming along just fine. Most of the appliances are in.

As part of the "kitchen remodel" the laundry room/mud room somehow got included! So here is the BEFORE of the laundry room:

and AFTER (still a work in progress):

There were really large cabinets back there but we needed a little different set up. Now we have a little bench and a little workspace to put folded clothes! (Both are actually being tiled as I write.)

Kitchen with some appliance!

Just a few fun videos of our little monkey!

Such a big (independent) boy!

As I said before, Jack is becoming more independent every day! He now wants to brush his own teeth. Needless to say, we have to brush them first and then he gets his turn. The funny thing about this picture is that he climbed onto the counter all by himself while I was carrying a load of laundry upstairs. I'm pretty sure he had already brushed his teeth about an hour before with Zack. I guess anytime is a good time for Jack to brush his teeth!

We've noticed that Jack plays for longer periods of time with his toys. He tried stacking these balls for quite a while. And YES he put the animals in/on the ark...

Reading is still very important to Jack. He and I read in his tent every morning. He lays on his pillow while I read!
Trying to get the very last drop!

Right now we are in the middle of a remodeling project. So we eat all our meals in the basement. Jack likes to help carry things downstairs. He is becoming such a big helper. I will be really glad when the fridge gets moved downstairs!

Back to the comment on independence...Jack REALLY wanted to wear this outfit on Saturday! He has started picking out this clothes in the morning. (I really think he only liked the shorts because of the sharks!)

I wonder if they are planning our next trip?!?!

Jack built this tower all by himself...unfortunately I didn't snap the picture quick enough!

Jack enjoys picking tomatoes and beans in the garden. I love his facial expression here!

Baby update: We are at 24 weeks! That was a very fast 24 weeks. Baby girl is very active, I don't remember Jack moving around so much. Usually Jack moved around after meals and early in the morning. Baby girl moves all day long. With Jack I craved salad, skittles/starbursts, caramel rolls and fruit. With baby girl I have craved lots of cheetos!!!

House update: As I said earlier when we purchased the home, we knew we wanted to remodel the kitchen. The first picture is the kitchen view from the family room and the second picture is the kitchen behind the wall.

After a few days of demolition!

A picture after this weekend.

More remodeling pictures to come!

Rub-a-dub-dub

Our little man still loves his baths...he took a break from splashing like a mad man but he is back at it! He loves every minute of bath time.

Zack is still the designated bath-giver. I am usually cleaning up the kitchen so I listen though the monitor. Sometimes I go upstairs just to see what sort of silliness is going on!
I HAD to share this picture because it shows one of Jack's favorite bath time activities - washing his feet. You will notice in this picture he already has the other foot in position for Zack to wash it!

We were invited to another picnic at the amusement park so Jack enjoyed another ride on the carousel!

This time I rode in the little bug with Jack!

This may not sound like a big deal but I was STUNNED that I had two pictures with Jack in a week. I am NEVER in the pictures...I was just saying to Zack, "I don't have any pictures with Jack because I'm always behind the camera!"

If you can't tell by now, we love going to the zoo! Jack gets so excited when we pull into the zoo parking lot he starts making all his animal sounds!

Jack wasn't so sure of the llama right away so he stayed close to Zack!

Best buddies!

We took a quick trip to Lowes this weekend and we tried out the car-carts - BIG HIT with Jack!

Cute little zoo video - Enjoy :)

The Big 10!!!

This past week Zack and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary! Whew, that flew by! When I think back on the past 10 years I am so thankful I married my best friend. There is no one else in this world that I would rather spend my life with. Zack is a wonderful husband and father. I can only imagine what he will be like with his little girl!

Zack made Jack and I a wonderful breakfast on Thursday - waffles!! Not just any waffles...waffles with peanut butter and chocolate chips - Mmmm! Jack and I thoroughly enjoyed every bite. At noon he brought me flowers - so sweet!
That night we went out for dinner and ice cream while my parents watched Jack. This past weekend I surprised Zack and took him to Medora for the day. We had a great time talking and eating! Probably should have asked someone to take our picture...oh well! The scenery is beautiful though :)

It is tradition to visit the ice cream store while in Medora. I was pleasantly surprised to discover they started selling caramel rolls!!!!!!! Yep, I ate the WHOLE thing...well I gave Zack a few bites.

Thanks honey for a wonderful anniversary!

OK, finally some pictures of the person you really want to see! Jack Oliver loves to climb ON things and IN things...

Our own Mario Andretti!

My dad now has a helper in the garden.

I don't think Jack was too fond of the birds nest...

It's a GIRL!!!

Jack's picture above says it all!!

We are thrilled and can't wait to meet this little girl.

This past week we got a sneak peak (I know, pictures only parents can love!)

Check out that bicep!!!
We visited a new park this weekend, Jack had a blast! He even let us put him in the swing. He held on to dad's hand for a while...

...But he finally let go and enjoyed his brief swing ride.

He goes down the "big-kid" slide all by himself now.

He is such a monkey!

It's hard to believe he is doing all these things BY HIMSELF! But we are glad he is showing his independence (just as long as it's not in the store!!!).