8 Months!!!

Hard to believe it, but Jack is 8 months old today! Seems like just yesterday we were bringing our sweet precious angel home from the hospital. When we had him, I thought I would never be more in love with him, then at that very moment....was I ever wrong. He continues to amaze and humble us daily. We could not be more proud to call him our son. We are so thankful and blessed to have him in our lives.

At 8 months you are:

• Crawling (as of about 4 days ago) and you love to stand on mom or dad's lap whenever possible
• Babbling and screaming up a storm. Occasionally we hear a Ma Ma. Maybe wishful thinking but I thought we heard a Da Da yesterday.
• You love anything electronic- phones, remotes, cameras, video cameras.
• Have a fit if you cannot see your ma ma or if you think we are ignoring you.
• Says Mmmmmm, almost in a whine, to let us know you want something
• Love all the veggies and fruits you have tried and PUFFS! You love you some puffs of any kind!
• You have been drinking out of a sippy cup for the last two months and love apple juice
• You sleep 11-12 hours at night with 2 naps during the day.
• You have 6 teeth and a 7th will be here any moment
• You love the doggies, going on walks, being tickled, playing in bath water and in the lake

We cannot wait to see what the next 8 months will bring, we love you Jackie B!

Baby Proofing

Since Jack started crawling and pulling up in bed, we thought it was time to lower the mattress....

Here are Jack and Dad working hard

Were Crawling!!!!

Here are a few pictures documenting post crawl. I've been trying to figure out how to upload video of the first crawl now for 4 days.... and since you see no video....I still can't get it!!! Once I figure it out I will post it.

Anyway- On Tuesday Jack decided to "take off"!!! He is still a little wobbly, but makes it across the living room floor to get at the dogs, a remote, a camera, the laptop- anything electronic. Once he gets off the carpet- he slows down. He has busted his face several times on the tile and I think he's a little gun shy.

In the morning and after a nap this is where you can find him. I have already had to remove the mobile- because he sits up and gets tangled.

We now have a little person at our feet all the time.




Trying to sit up underneath the bouncer, not going so well....

Our first electronic fatality..... it happened in about 1 second and he had all the keys in his mouth! Luckily I figured out how to get the keys back on and the laptop stays off of the floor!

Ready for our Walk

I got these yesterday, as we were leaving to go on our morning walk.

Jack is watching the dogs go nuts waiting for me to open the front door.

He thinks they are so much fun.

Cheese!!

All the "children" ready to go! Can you tell the dogs get a little excited? Panting and we haven't gone anywhere. We now have to spell out k-l-a-w (walk backwards), otherwise they go CRAZY in anticipation.

Family Time

I took these pictures last night of Jack and Brian on the porch before I put Jack to bed.

He is so crazy about his Little Boy!

Here ara a few pictures of Jack and his Uncle Terry.

Stuck

The theme at our house lately has been "Stuck". Jack has been attempting to crawl for weeks, so we are ooching, army crawling and rolling everywhere. After a while we will here a whine or a continuous "ma ma ma ma ma" and here is what we find......

Happy Birthday Lainey!!!!

I am so thrilled to report that Jack has a new friend. Our very dear friends, Brett and Lindsay had their beautiful baby girl yesterday afternoon and we could not be more thrilled for them!

It is beyond exciting to watch and wait with your friends as they travel along the same journey we just did. I guess it is most exciting because you know the joy and the love they are about to experience. I remember several friends and family members that have already had children telling us how much fun this "having a baby" was going to be and what joy it would bring us. I must say, I remember thinking what in the world is the fuss about-it's a baby? Not that we weren't excited, we just had NO clue the magnitude of love and appreciation to the Lord that we would have for Jack. After we had him, for weeks every time I looked at him- I would just start crying in appreciation and joy for having created this perfect being with my husband. I now better understand the words from Psalms "My cup runneth over...".

To our dear friends.....May your cup runneth over with love, joy, gratitude and awe for that sweet baby girl. ( I know it already is!)

Pictures of Jack from our last lake trip

Not long after we arrived he was.........

Chewing on the coffee table in the living room

So we decided to take a bath and clean up.




Then he hung out with his Aunt Angie

And took a boat ride to Hell's Gate.

We went out to eat and I think someone at the table did something funny.

Then Jack drove part of the way home.

(I know what your thinking- this was at the rest stop)

What a trip- He was a worn out little boy!

"Ventura Highway......."

Today my parents would have celebrated their 35th Anniversary.......but as some of you may know, my dad passed away in Dec. of 2007.

There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about him and what he went through the last few months of his life. There is also not a day that goes by that I don't think about what my mother has gone through with loosing her spouse, her confidant, the father of her children and the loneliness that goes with that loss. I also must say that when I think of our loss-I am comforted to have seen the courage and strength that my mother possesses.

When I woke up today I thought a little bit about their anniversary, but then of course other things got in the way - waking up Jack, feeding him, walking him and the dogs, etc. As I sat down to do some work I decided to listen to my iPod ( I don't think I've listened to my iPod in a year- not kidding). So after I charged the poor thing up, I put the ear pieces in, put it on shuffle and went to work. Well I didn't get very far without a tear. The first song that came on was "Ventura Highway" by America, a.k.a. my dad's favorite song. Of course, it would only be fitting that I hear that today. I could not help but think of it as a little hello from him. They lyrics took on a bit of a new meaning for me.... I pictured him care-free and driving his convertible with a smile on his face.

"Cause the free wind is blowin through your hair. And the days surround your daylight there; Seasons crying no despair" -and thru my tears I had to smile a little. :)

My parents at the Cotton Bowl in 2006

Our last family picture

Happy Anniversary Mom.......and Dad- we love and miss you!

Happy Anniversary!!!

Hard to believe, but we were married 6 years ago today! Who would have thought that there would be an additional Fralin among us? Jack has been the best gift from God we could ever ask for. I can honestly say that I could not be happier with my life.

We have had some rough patches the last few years- each loosing a parent, moving back home to be closer to family, Brian starting a new business and becoming parents for the first time. Although it has been trying at times- I think that we are closer than we've ever been. - and for that I am THANKFUL.

I love you just as much now as I did 6 years ago - maybe more! Thank you for being such a wonderful husband, father to Jack and provider to us all. I love you!!!!

Brain and I last year at my sisters wedding (I can't find a wedding picture)

Jack 6 months

My First Post!

So, I am new to this blogging thing. In fact I told myself that I would not be one of those "people" that get caught up in this blogging, my spacing, facebooking world.......and here I am! Truth be told- this is totally addicting.

My main goal in starting this blog is to allow our friends and family, that don't see us all the time, to keep up with Jack. Watching him learn and grow has been such a privilege and we want to share that with all of you.