Parking Lots and Such

You never know how picky you can be about parking lots and other odd things (like right now my husband is making bubble sounds and singing Sleep Tight Little One in a fishy voice - not a sleepy time voice). 

Anyway, if you know the person who designs parking lots, please ask them why they don't create your "Park here if you have a tiny baby in your car" spaces. And why aren't there parking lot police who can arrest those idiots who surge through the pedestrian walk way in front of the store - even though they saw you pushing a buggy with a baby + car seat all loaded up and it's raining outside. AND - why isn't there a nice man standing at the entrance of every Target and Walmart offering to valet park your car for free? And finally, why does it matter if I walk into the store on the OUT side of the IN side. Why can't I just enter the store on the blessed door that is closest to my parked car. One more thing, why doesn't every Wal-Mart and Target offer a nursing mothers room. All you have to do is offer a clean room with a door and a chair of some sort. In fact, shouldn't this be a norm at every mall too? 

And now for some cute pictures: Jrew "made" a cute little reindeer with his little hands and feet in daycare yesterday. Here are a few pics of it.

Here is a picture of another baby's reindeer (Top left) 

compared to Jrew's tiny one. :) He's one of the youngest babies in the class.

Here is Jrew's up close!

Here is the swet trea outside their classroom! :)

New Pictures

We recently had our friend Jonathan do some amazing pictures of Jrew. Here is a preview. However, these are copies and would not print well if you were going to try and do that. :) So, if you would like a "digital" copy of the pics, let me know and I can email you some. 

You can also view the pictures are www.jwhowardphotography.com/jrose

Enjoy!

So many things...

Gosh. There are so many things on my mind right now that it's hard to think of what to post. Jrew is almost 4 months old officially. He is 16 weeks old and is growing so fast. He is such a cute little goose. (My grandmother tells me to stop calling her baby a "goose".) Jrew is also sleeping really well at night. He does, however, when he doesn't have a stuffy nose and congestion which he has had twice now in two weeks!!! His cold went away and then magically reappeared just for fun. :) He can't sleep on those nights and wakes up often. However, on a good night he goes to sleep around 8:00 or 8:30 and sleeps for a little while, wakes and eats around 9:30 and then sleeps the rest of the night. Since I have to be at work so early, he has to eat around 6:00 am. But, it's not a problem since I have to get him dressed and off to work by 7:00. Oh what fun it is to ride... I mean Oh what fun it is to try and get ready, eat breakfast, feed a baby, dress a baby, pack a baby in a carseat, search for baby's pacifier - blanket - burp cloth - socks, warm a car, scrape off ice, load baby in car, and drive 20 minutes to work every single morning. :) But, who can complain with such a darling baby boy to snuggle with!

One more thought as I close out. I have been very saddened to learn that a few dear friends of mine have lost their jobs and/or are in danger of losing their jobs soon. I know that God is faithful and has a very specific and purposeful plan for their lives, but that doesn't always make it a happy transition. One friend has already seen a turn-around in her situation and her company rehired her and even gave her a promoted position. I sure wish I could say the same for the other two dear friends. Please... pray for God's provision and for restored hope in the future!

Fare thee well and Good Night!

Jrew Laughing and Playing

This was just so hilarious we couldn't help but post it tonight. We had some dear friends over for games, snacks, and to pack Christmas Shoe-boxes. Our friend Daniel was playing with Jrew and making him laugh hysterically. It's a little blurry because they're both jumping around but I thought you might enjoy it. :)

Laughing and Smiling: The Best New Movie Re-edited

I just have to brag on this baby. He is soooooo darling. Here is a video with him smiling and Laughing!!! Yes, i said laughing. I was counting how many times he has laughed out loud, and now I've lost count. We're way over 20 in two weeks!!!  Enjoy. PS - The first part of the video is a bit boring... stick with it... the laughter comes at the climax of the film!!! :) 

3 Months Old!

These are just some of my favorite pics from the last few weeks. I just love this baby boy!!!

I just couldn't stand the thought of writing his name in permanent marker on his blanket for daycare. However, after seeing how much time it takes to do the above by hand, I am exploring alternative ideas for labeling his things. Although, I have plans to do a few more embroidery like this. I also put his name on a hat.. it is soo cute!

In this picture, I look 12 years old. LOL

Why so serious?

Here above and below are pics of my friend Jenn and her baby boy Travis. 

She and I have been friends since 8th grade! :) 

We're happy to have our boys and 

it was soooo good to see here again last month!

 Already throwing up gangsta signs? 

Gosh! They grow up fast.

On of my favorites. He looks like an angel. 

I tell Jrew all the time that the angels 

are certainly missing him and 

that they probably argued over who was 

going to be his guardian angel. :) 

First Day Back

To start off today... Jrew played in his bouncy seat while I ate breakfast. He kicked his shoe off for the first time ever and I think that is hilarious. Okay, so I obsess over every single little thing. That's what mommy's do! :)

Jrew had a great morning! I checked on him by phone at 9:00 and then I walked over to see him at 12:00. I also went over at 1:30 to feed him. Oh. For those of you who do not know, the Child Development Center is located just one building away from mine on my school's campus. It is so nice that he is so close. 

Also: Jrew did cry this afternoon, but they said they fed him an "extra" bottle and he was very happy. He had a great remainder of the day!!!

So, the question is: How did MOM do today? I did fine. I didn't cry all day until I picked him up and realized he had cried earlier. BUMMER.

However, today at lunch my long-term sub mentioned to the students that I had just had a baby. (Reminder: I teach 5th Grade) One student, M- (you never know who's reading blogs... lol), peaked under the table to look at my tummy. He said..."Yeah. There's still a little fat down there."

Completely mortified, I didn't really respond. Clearly he didn't need a response because he continued... "That's what it does you know. It always leaves a little bit of fat after the baby squeezes out." I just lost it... I busted out laughing. The other teacher laughed and then she reminded him that we were teachers so we understand the slip up. However, that he should not say these sort of things to people because it is considered rude.

A little later, (oh yeah... he wasn't finished), he said..."You know Mrs. Rose, when we go outside [for recess], you should just swing a little, you know, relax. You know, I got a little fat down there too. It kinda' bothers me a little. I'm a little sensitive about that."

AND THEN at recess, the same student tried to pull me aside to tell me very discreetly: "You know... I know a brand of diapers you should use." [Long pause while M- tells another student to stop listening in on our private conversation] 

"Pampers Cruisers. Because they help the baby learn how to walk."

Boy oh boy... I can't wait until Day #2!

Updates...

Who you wanna' fight?

Oh! You wanna' fight me?

He's a cutie for sure. But don't pick a fight with him. :) I have so many pictures to update that it will take me a few more days to catch up with everything. Among the highlights this week: Jrew laughed for the first time! I jumped up and down like a little kid!!! He is also grabbing things more often now. Jrew is officially 12 weeks old and took his first plane ride. Mommy goes back to work next week so we'll update with pics of Jrew going to school with mommy next week!

Jrew has discovered his hair. He now grabs it when he's sleepy!

A sweet moment: I caught daddy and baby taking a nap!

I just think he's gorgeous! I guess its ok to be so amazed by my own son!

Some pics from our trip so far...

It should just be said that Jrew is an amazing traveler. He didn't cry once on the plane or even in the airport. Here he is sleeping on the plane. 

Okay. This is a true funny story! My grandmother's Ex-husband offered to bring her to pick me up from the airport. He had a cricket in his car and here is a pic of the cricket on his leg while he was driving. I'm tellin' you... things are different out here in the country!

I never knew it would be so much easier to give him a bath in the kitchen sink. And he seems to really enjoy it! :)

Over the River and Through the Air

Well, Jrew and I have taken to the friendly skies to come to grand ol' Arkansas to visit my grandmother. In her own words, she hasn't been feeling too hot. In other words, she has a been sick. So, here we are. We are having a good time and soon I will have many new pics to post! Jrew had shots the day before we left and was grumpy all day. BUT, he did not cry once on the trip here. He banked it all up until we got here - urgh. He was not a happy camper. Today has been good however and we are going to visit with a friend tomorrow! That's all for now. I hope you all have a blessed Sunday!!!

Photos with Baby: $.50

Jrew has really turned into the King of Smile lately. I love it. I am mesmerized with him when he gets in the mood for smiling and I just can't hardly take my eyes off of him to get anything done. Anyway, before he was born I bought him a onsie that says "Photos with Baby: $.50". I recently told some Mosaic friends that the price had gone up since he is so cute! Now that he is smiling, the price has inflated again. Currently, pictures are being sold to the highest bidder. LOL
AND as you can tell, I've become pretty obsessed with taking pictures of him.

First Road Trip: Meeting the Family

We took our first road trip with Jrew this past weekend in order to attend the wedding of our friend Andrew. (Wedding pics to come later). The weekend was very busy and Jew met a lot of people including family and old college friends. Here are a few pics of family and beneath each picture a caption to explain who is in the pic. The pics are in no particular order. Enjoy!

If you ask these girls, they would say they are also Jrew's family. 

From left to right: Diamond, Lisa (their mom), Arielle, and Taylor. 

This is Jrew's Great Aunt Evelyn. She is just one of the great aunts 

and I must say they all love him very much.

This is one of Jrew's Great Grandmothers. 

She is always so darling and sweet.

This is Jrew's cousing Charley. Isn't she gorgeous?

It is their second time meeting since he was born.

This is Thomas and his cousin Donald (They're practically brothers) 

and their first born son and daughter. (Jrew and Charley)

This is four generations of Thomas Rose. 

From Left to Right: Jrew, Thomas (AKA Jay/Daddy), 

Ron (Granddaddy), and THE ORIGINAL Thomas (Great Granddaddy).

This is Jrew with my dad AKA "Papa Mike"

Here is Jrew with Thomas's mom AKA Grandmommy 

and his two cousins Lanosha and Sky.

This is Jrew with his Great Aunt Frenchie. 

She is also Charley's grandmother.

Here is Jrew with Granddaddy.