The Genius that is American Idol

As much as Erik and I don't want to waste our time with the monotony known as American Idol...we've yet again been sucked in....
How does this show not get old? Well, it does. But unfortunately as long as there are humans on this earth the show can go on. Fox is genius. They know that all they have to do is put up a sign that says "american idol auditions" and "they" will come. Princess Leia (sp?) imitators, cross dressers, Peter Pit-Sweat, and of course guys who say things like "heaven geev chance of talent free of charge" with tears coming down his face. Who wouldn't want to watch this expo of human diversity??? Genius. I mean, really. It's hilarious. We cringe, we close our eyes, we grab each others knees really hard like somehow that's going to help the contestant stop embarrassing them self, and in those rare occasions we even fast forward through the really awkward ones because we just can't take it. I love the movie "Waiting for Guffman" and I think there are many similarities between the characters in that movie and the contestants on American Idol.
In fact, I think Libby Mae Brown will probably show up on the audition trail at some point...and when Simon asks her what makes her unique she'll reply:
"I been workin' here at the D.Q. for about, um... eight months? Seven? I don't know, somethin' like that, it's fun. Just do the cones... make sundaes, make Blizzards, 'n... put stuff on 'em, 'n... see a lot of people come in, a lot of people come to the D.Q... burgers... ice cream... anything, you know? Cokes... just drive in and get a Coke, if you're thirsty."
then she'll sing a lovely rendition of "Teachers Pet" and end her beautiful song with an awkward attempt at the splits.
Genius.

grilling with dad
little baylor bear
wearing a tie just like dad
look what i found at playgroup mom!!!
first time in a swing (don't worry we were closely monitoring him)

Jack's first Christmas

Sorry I have been so delayed on updating our blog after Christmas. We got back from Lincoln on the 29th so obviously I'm a little behind!
Jack did incredible on the flight. It made us nervous as we walked up to the gate to await boarding the plane because of all the people staring at us just hoping we weren't on THEIR flight. At airports everyone thinks babies are so adorable and cute as long as they aren't on YOUR flight. Well luckily for all those folks traveling from Dallas to Omaha Jack was an awesome airplane passenger. He never cried once and the change in altitude didn't seem to bother him a bit!

We were also worried about his sleeping schedule since we were going to be away from home for a whole week. Jack did great and still slept 8pm-7am every night! It was a little colder than what he was used to but it's not like we took him outside to go walking in 10 degree weather...we found things to do indoors. He loved getting to see more family! I mean who wouldn't enjoy 20 people gathering around them with "oooohs" and "ahhhhs" and "how cute" every other second! Jack has no problem receiving attention:)

I guess a few new things that I think are pretty cool are:

1) I have now turned him around to sit like a big boy in his stroller. He loves seeing everything!

2) He can play in his little jumparoo although I don't think they make those for kids that small because his feet aren't even close to touching the ground. We just put a pillow under his feet.

3) He imitates sounds that Erik and I make. His favorites are "aaaoooohhhh" and "aaaayyyyy" but not the one that sounds like an aggie yell practice threw up :) sorry aggie friends. But he is VERY vocal nonetheless.

I'm getting the feeling that his personality is going to be an outgoing, never meets a stranger type personality. He's also a little ham and can turn it on when he wants to! I can see Mr. Discipline and Mrs. Spanking lurking not too far down the road!

2008 will be such an exciting year as Jack will have many little friends born in '08!!! And a Dallas Cowboys superbowl appearance sure would be great too:)

playdates, playgroups, and paris

Man oh man is this time of year busy or what? I don't even know where to begin. First off, Jack had his first play date with baby Mackenzie and well...it was amazing....they loved each other. I have never seen him so content as he was just laying on his back next to her. It was the cutest, funniest thing! Erik is surely proud of him for trying to hold her hand the whole time:) I say slowwww down little buddy!

Later that week I took Jack to his first playgroup at the Reiter's house and he loved watching all the kids play. I propped him up in his carrier and he kept trying to lean forward as to say "Mom let me at em!!! I'm ready to play with the big kids!" He even got to meet baby Caroline who is in his nursery class at church. Thanks Ashley for giving us the playgroup info!

This past Tuesday we went to my hometown (Paris.....Texas) to see my brothers Jeremy and Josh.

*I should mention that on the way there we witnessed a motorcycle fatality at 380 just east of Preston. It really shook me up to see a man in the middle of the road who had been thrown from his motorcycle. Civilians were starting CPR as I was pulling up. Pray for that man's family. He was a 44 year old man from Celina who was pronounced dead after being careflighted to Parkland*

Anyway, Jeremy had ACL surgery and it was Josh's birthday so we made a little day trip to see them. They LOVE Jack. While we were there we went to pick up lunch at the '24th street cafe' and I think I knew 80% of the people there...even though I've been gone over 6 years! Gotta love the hometown.

We are heading to Lincoln, Nebraska (where Erik grew up) on Sunday. Our flight is around 10 a.m. so pray for us as we fly with an infant for the first time. I will update the blog as soon as we return on the 29th!

Jack is still our little sleeping champion! Praise the Lord for 8-7!

Have a great Christmas from our family to yours (...I copied that from Paula Deen)

Do we look rested?

Well we always heard that it is very possible for a baby to sleep 12 hours straight by the time they are 12 weeks old but we never actually thought we would be so fortunate with our kids. Jack has proved us wrong. Jack is now 10 wks old and he has gone from sleeping 10pm - 7am to now 7pm - 7am ....ahh.... 12 hours!!! Thank you Kingdom Parenting and thank you Julie for helping me drop that 10pm feeding! Erik and I feel like new people although Jack was never one to make his parents totally sleep deprived.

We took the picture at a kids Christmas party at Erik's office and I was so excited because Santa was coming to give a present to each of the kids. What did Jack do? Of course, he fell asleep and cared nothing of Santa and the rest of the festivities. Maybe next year. We're thinking that maybe by Easter he'll get the hang of this whole holiday thing and actually get excited for Easter eggs, the Easter bunny, and candy he can't eat. Maybe we'll put rice cereal in his Easter eggs this year haha. I suppose I need to just enjoy this time because right now he's "unattached" around the holidays...I can see this conversation coming up at a Valentine's Day down the road..."Mom can you buy flowers, chocolates, and Hannah Montana sparkle eye shadow for Katelyn, Sydney, Mackenzie, Emma, Kaelyn, Shae...and oh yea....some for you, too, mom"....let's hope that's a long time away:)

Quick update on Jack:

10 weeks old, a little over 12 lbs, somewhere around 23 inches long, size 2 diapers, eating between 4-6 ozs per feeding, making lots of noises and having "conversations" with us, still in awe of sportscenter and watching the cowboys with dad, and last but certainly not least- sleeping 11-12 hours at night!

happy 2 month birthday jack...we got you four presents...4 SHOTS!!

Remember when you were a child and you dreaded the innevitable 6 month teeth cleaning? Or for me when I was in high school and played basketball and I knew I was going to have to guard the 6 foot 250 lb girl who was going to absolutely run over me up and down the court. That is way I felt today and I wasn't even the one getting the shots. Something about watching a helpless, unexpecting, CUTE 12 lb baby who is smiling and cooing get the heck poked out of his legs 4 times just kills me. Awful.

But...

He survived. He actually did pretty good and didn't start screaming until after the 4th shot had been administered. Erik picked him up right after the shots and he quickly calmed down in daddy's arms with the help of a bottle. I think anytime he gets to see his dad between the hours of 7:30 and 6:30 he is just in heaven even if he's getting shots. I actually contemplated giving Jack a dumdum sucker because he did so well but I refrained and I ate it for him, of course:)

So needless to say we are officially disease resistant and 2 months old. He got an A plus on his report card whatever that means... I think it breaks down like this:

A - Your baby is alive

B- It appears your baby is alive

C- If you keep this up, your baby will not be alive much longer

*And an extra PLUS is awarded if your baby is smiling during the observation.

So I guess Jack was alive and smiling today:)

Jack has also been sleeping through the night (10-7) for almost 2 weeks now! We are so thankful and proud.

I posted some updated 2 month pics.

P1 from Day 1

So I can't take credit for the title of this posting. Erik thought of the clever words. For those of you who do not know...a "P1" is someone who listens to Sports Radio 1310 The Ticket. Jack has been listening to the ticket, specifically Bob and Dan's Bad Radio 12-3, since he was in my tummy. I hate to admit it but sometimes during the day I mute the t.v. and turn on the radio to listen to Norm Hitzges 10-12 and Bad Radio 12-3 with Jack. Yes, I'm a sports fan. Well this past week Bob and Dan were doing a road show in Little Elm on Friday which is pretty close to Frisco and I try to take Jack on at least one outing every day soooo what did I do? Yes. I took Jack to this "undisclosed location" to see Bob and Dan:) They loved him! They couldn't believe that a mom would actually do such a thing but they were flattered nonetheless. I was definitely the only girl there with the exception of the ticket chicks who were very nice by the way. After Bob and Dan got over the initial shock of a girl bringing her 2 month old son to see them, they were very interested in Jack. During one of their breaks they were asking how old he was and Bob was even playing with him a little. I asked if I could get a picture and they put Jack and me right in between them and put their arms around us like we were family. They were SO nice. I called Erik to tell him about this and he was so proud that his son met the Bad Radio guys! I posted the picture of Dan, Bob, Jack, and me.