Jacob is 8 years old!

Even one year makes a huge difference. Last summer he was missing teeth and had a very stylish mohawk!


I remember all the way back to the beginning. Right after I got pregnant with Katy, Darren heard the Lord tell him to pray for Jacob, too.

We still had to wait about 3 more years before we got to meet him. He was 10 lbs. My biggest baby. It all took less than 2 hours from serious contraction and water breaking to delivery... fast and intense - just like Jacob.

Dad and Uncle Davin were at the movies watching X-Men. They were closer to the hospital than I was - so they finished the movie and grabbed a burger on the way over. Adventist, Portland, Oregon.

I would lay Jacob down on his back for his nap, and he'd want the blanket on his cheek. As long as his blanket or something was on his face, he was fine. He didn't really have a favorite blanket that he carried around, but he did love his binky.

We drove to Texas when he was 18 months old. We had those Chevron cars with the big eyes. I used to call him my broccoli boy, but after that trip - he converted to french fries.

He loved Thomas the Tank Engine. The whistles and peeps and toots... I remember him standing in one of the kitchen chairs at the Jacqueline house making all the train noises. I also remember him getting VERY frustrated as he began to talk and we didn't quite understand him... VERY FRUSTRATED!!!

We collected those trains and Nana Jana made him a train table...so many hours of play. Setting them up, using all his imagination, sharing with his big sister, trying to keep the little sisters from messing it up.

I remember when he had to sleep on the bottom bunk bed. He wanted to be on top, but Katy was. There were stickers with his name on the wood. I remember laying on the bottom bunk with him, my little boy.

We moved to the new house... and there was no room for a train table. He doesn't play with them much anymore anyway. Army guys, guns, airplanes, light sabers, animals, magnetics, legos, k'nex, reading, reading, reading, and more reading.

He's on the top now, well, they both are. Loft beds over all of his special possesions. His favorite toys and books.


Last summer we were in Nashville. We ended up on the road, driving home on his birthday. We had a party at some cousins house, Shrek cake, legos, etc. But not a "real" party with his friends. Katy made him a popcorn cake when we got home.
This year we were going to have a "real" party with his friends. But we all get sick and had to reschedule it... for October. He won't be home til then. How great is that? We all tried to make up for not having a party, plus he gets a party 3 months later.

He is only 8 yrs old. Not very old at all. But so far away from the little boy with the blanket on his face. I love him. My Jacob boy.


He grows a little more everyday into the man he's going to be. I am so proud and honored to be his mom.

I miss you brother. Have a great time this summer.

I'll see you in the fall - mom

mopping?

We don't have carpet in our house. Hardwood floors in the bedrooms, vinyl in the other rooms. Everyone always comments on how easy that must be to clean and keep clean.

Well, no. I don't find it to be easier. When I clean it... it probably is cleaner than carpet. But if I don't clean it...then I guess it's dirtier.

My whole goal yesterday was to sweep and mop the big room. And it took me all day to get all the stuff and people off of the floor so I could sweep and mop it.

The last time it was mopped was in March, when Priscila came to visit. It took us all day that time. I guess I'll do it again in November :)



Next up is the cozy room. It needs to be swept and mopped, too!

Almost 42%

It's been a while since I blogged...but I've been busy. Claire is one month old!

I've lost 16 lbs. I've organized/ cleaned shelves, boxes, baskets, drawers that I haven't dealt with in 6 months or more - not since the nausea started. Then I was too tired to care :)

Grandma has been faithful to do laundry and cooking and shopping, so I've had a chance to use the little energy I have to organize! I was telling someone I hadn't done laundry in over a month and grandma was cooking and cleaning... she said "It's nice to have a wife, isn't it." Yes it is!

Darren is getting closer and closer to having his wife back, as well. Towards the end of the pregnancy, I was telling Darren that someday (when I wasn't pregnant) that even a 30% functioning Jennifer was better than the pregnant one.

Two weeks ago, Darren said I was at about 37%. I think this week, I'm almost to 42%.

Who's the fifth cylon?

Yes, Darren and I are big BSG fans (Battlestar Galactica). And I am a person who likes to know. I need answers. And they aren't giving it up fast enough.

I have questions that need answers:

1. How did the final 5 just happen to survive the cylon invasion and ALL end up on the same spaceship.

2. If they didn't know they were cylons, then who turned the music on in their heads at the same time...and how did they figure it out? How can they keep it a secret?

3. And not knowing you are a cylon creates a problem when you find out you are one.

4. How can Colonel Tigh be a cylon if he was fighting in the first cylon war - when the cylons went away and started making humanoids... he's too old to be a cylon. Unless they changed him out during the invasion or something...

I just can't see where it's going...not to Earth...doubt that. But I didn't forsee the hybrid "jump"ing either.

Now we have to wait 2 more weeks for the next one... for the next one to just string us along without any real answers... aahhh, what a show.

someday

Since I was on modified bedrest - I missed out on a playday with Tracey and LaRee (the other bridesmaid). Spa day, nails, hair... I had to choose one or the other. Go play or be in the wedding. I chose the wedding. I can play with Tracey another day. She won't be in Germany forever...and I won't be pregnant, someday.

Big Manda, Little Daddy

Darren has been working with Amanda on little and big. One of the things they've been saying is little Amanda, big Daddy. But she made a funny and says - "leetle" daddy, big Manda :) That's our funny girl.

Of course, on any given night one of the other kids will pray that Amanda will get sillier and sillier. I guess it's working.

She'll be 2 this week. She wants to potty train - but I can't deal with that yet. This summer, after the baby will be just fine.

She likes to say her colors. Orange, blue, yellow, pink... she doesn't always get it right, but those are the main ones she likes to say.

Amazingly enough, she's also old enough to sit and "watch" big movies ....right now that's Barbie and Strawberry Shortcake.

But her favorite is two baskets that have all her board books in them. She takes them around and "reads" all her books. She also has a baby and bear that she throws in there. But it's all about the books. And she wants BOTH baskets in her bed - which means we have to make sure and check her after she falls asleep. How comfortable is it to sleep on a pile of books. Guess it doesn't bother her.

the biggest little black dress ever

I knew she could do it. Nana Jana can sew anything: wedding dresses, kids clothes, window treatments of all kinds, recover couches, cushions, chairs. You name it, or show it to her, and she can sew it...with or without a pattern.

So a little black bridesmaid dress should be no problem. Add one 8 month pregnant belly and now the game is on.

And she nailed it. Great job, Nana.