Party #1

Last night we started our Christmas celebrations with Jason's parents. We had a nice dinner at Boatwerks and then everyone came back to our house for a few presents. It was really great to be all together and we also had the chance to meet Ashely's boyfriend! The grand kids were definitely spoiled and had a lot of fun. Jacob's favorite part however was not his presents but his cousin Gisele's bitty baby and stroller. Thanks mom and dad for a wonderful Christmas. Jacob has been enjoying his chair today, he loves to crawl on it and just sit with a pile of books!!

Baking with Family

Jacob just had to try a cookie and suprise surprise he loved it!

Yesterday we started a new Christmas tradition with my mom. We had our first annual Christmas cooking baking day. Teresa, Gabe, Jacob and I went over to my moms house bright and early yesterday morning to start baking. The boys played and napped while we did a lot of baking. I think in all we made seven different kinds of cookies! It was a fun day and we look forward to when the boys can be a part of the baking! :)

A visit to Santa

Jacob had his first visit to Santa last night. Grandpa & Grandma Bouwens also came out to see the big event and had dinner with the little guy. Jacob did a great job and didn't cry at all. He was pretty quiet though so were not sure if Santa really knows what he wants. Oh well, I'm sure both his Grandparents will spoil him even if Santa doesn't. Jacob also ate like at champ at Crazy Horse. He even delveloped a new little trick of stealing food off of Grandpa's plate, so watch out if you sit next to him at Christmas. :)

1st trip to the dentist

Jacob made his first visit to the dentist today to see Uncle Tom and have some X-rays taken. Jacob was a good patient and sat nice and still on his Dad's lap for the X-rays. We were happy to have the X-rays show that he does in fact have front teeth. We were a little concerned because the outside front teeth came in first about two weeks ago. (Just in case you are new to babies that is not the norm so we took advantage of Uncle Tom's offer and had the x-rays.) Thanks for easing my mind Tom!! :)

A new car seat for Jacob

Jacob is going to be riding in style tomorrow with his new car seat. He's using his Christmas present a little early but hopefully it will make him a happier passenger! He's still small enough to ride in the infant seat but just isn't real comfortable. He was 16 lbs. at his 9 month check up. I hope its easier to get him in and out of as well.

My Guys

Elf in Training

Jacob's Great Aunt Jaci sent Jacob a cute little Christmas shirt and he really took it seriously. Tonight I thought I would get a start on my Christmas wrapping while Jason watched Jacob but Jacob was more interested in helping me. Jason only encouraged the behavior. He loves to tease!

Making the best of the remodel

One of the inconveniences of finishing our basement and remodeling some of the upstairs was that Jacob's bathtub had a toilet sitting in it for about 2 weeks so Jacob had to take his baths in the sink. At first he wasn't a big fan but once we filled the sink up real full and let his splash on the floor he started to really enjoy it!


Jacob enjoyed watching the last load of laundry spin in our old laundry room!!

We're Back!!

Yes, we are back!!! I have missed my computer while we were finishing the basement and remodeling a little bit upstairs my computer was not very accessible so unfortunately no way or time to blog. ANYWAY, we have much to be thankful for as we missed posting on Thanksgiving. We are so blessed to have a healthy little boy who we adore. I can't imagine my life with out the little guy. Most of you are over the Thanksgiving holiday so I will post a few pictures and move on.

Thanksgiving Dinner at Jason's Parents

Jacob and Great Grandpa Huyser in their Cabin Sweatshirts

Jacob and Gisele bathing at the Cabin

I think Jacob wanted to find the leftovers!!

Florida

Last week Jacob and I spent the week with Mary in Florida. It was beautiful weather and nice to have a quick getaway. We worked to help Mary get some more furniture, rugs, and lamps for her new condo. We also so spent a little time in the sun! :) Jacob really loved the sand this time!!! One morning I took him down to the beach and he couldn't get a enough of it. We also saw some amazing sand castles. Check out the great pictures!!!! Thanks for a fun trip Grandma!!!

A few of Jacob's latest activities

Jacob has become one busy little boy. It often takes some major distracting to get things done around the house. Some of Jacobs favorites are riding in the laundry basket and playing with the dog!!! Jacob also had a few play dates this week including Cason. Cason is good at letting Jacob know what he should be doing! :) We also went to the football game again this Friday. This time Jacob did a little better thanks to a early evening nap.

Lastly the reason for such a late night post is Jacob and I are off to Florida to spend some time with Grandma Mary. I've been trying to finish up some last minute packing up I'm exhausted. Hope I have everything!!

Two Happy Grandmas

Yesterday the Grandmas wanted to get together for lunch and show off their little grandchildren. Boys, boys, boys. Maybe Barb will get a little girl in April when Chad, Nicky and Ian welcome their newest member of the family. Thanks for a fun lunch ladies.

Thanks

Thanks to our family and friends who were able to attend the Young Life dinner last night. It was great to see all of you as we learned more about what Young Life is doing in our area. What is Young Life? Young Life brings the good news of Jesus Christ into the lives of adolescents with an approach that is respectful of who kids are and hopeful about who they can be. Want to know more? http://www.younglife.org/

A day at the Cabin

Sunday Jason wanted to ride up to the cabin for the day and get some work done on his hunting blind so we left on time in the morning and made a day of it. When we left home and it was raining I was thinking we were in for a long day but luckily it stopped before we even arrived at the cabin. Jacob took great naps so he was a happy camper while we were there. He couldn't resist playing in the leaved while daddy worked. However it was pretty cold so Jacob and mommy had to go in the barn and warm up for a while so daddy could finish up his work.

This weekend we also went to the DUX football game on Friday. It was a little chilly and Jacob was a little afraid of all the cheering so we only stayed until half time. Should have stayed though since it was such a close game. Oh, well were going again this Friday with Brian and Kelly so maybe Jacob will be more entertained and less scared.

Our Little Pumpkin

At Daddy's work Jan wanted to treat Jacob to a sucker.

We had a busy Halloween and Jacob definitely had his costume on and off plenty of times. Next year I'm going to look for a costume that fits in a car seat! We made sure to see all the grandparents and great-grandparents with Jacob in his costume over the past few days and visit Daddy at work!! Here are a few pictures of the festivities which did included taking even Quincy trick or treating after the rain cleared!

In case you can't see it Quincy was a spider. Jason felt bad for her and bought her a costume.

Adventures at Target

So today I had no plans of going to Target but surprise surprise ended up there. Mom wanted me to look at the Radio Flyer Wagon that was on sale for Jacob and Gabriel for Christmas. Sounded like an easy tasks we like it or we don't. Well ends up we had to take one entire wagon out of the boxs just to check that all the parts were in it and then as we get to mom's car realize her trunk is already full with porch furniture that she is taking to storage. Luckily the nice guy helping us this entire time helps us wedge the wagons in the car one on either side of Jacob. Jacob and mom are both laughing hysterically when this helpful guy jokingly tells us we need to stop going to pier one before target and then we would have room for our purchases.

(It was really fun, but you may have had to be there.)

Here is a picture of the wagon the boys will be getting on Christmas. As a note normally we DO NOT Christmas shop this early.

Mac n' Cheese Man

Jacob's newest favorite food is Mac n' Cheese! He will no longer sit back and watch mom and dad eat. If were eating he wants to be eating too! Even if it's right before bed. Jacob was having a rough Saturday so when daddy got home from hunting he though sharing his mac n' cheese with Jacob would do the trick and it did!

A Halloween Package for Jacob!!

I think he liked the packaging more than the onesie, but I sure thought he looked cute in his Halloween shirt!!

Update

This weekend seems like it is flying by and Jacob seems to be doing and finding new things everyday. He sure has a way of getting into things he shouldn't and can't get out of. It also appears that he is getting his first tooth!!! Sadly Jason was the first one to see it. I notice his gums were a little swollen on Friday but passed it off as my imagination. Then Saturday night before we went out for dinner with the Slagh's Jason mentioned that it looked like Jacob was getting a tooth and sure enough it is already breaking through the gums. It's a sharp little one and not really visible due to Jacob's fast toung movements. I will blog a picture of the tooth as soon as you can see and not only feel it. Here are a few pictures of Jacob and his weekend mischief.

After lunch Jacob just wanted to help clean up but didn't understand that when trying to stand up you can easily fall into the dishwasher. Jacob did fall in the dog bowl yesterday but I was a little to eager to get him dried off and clean up to find it funny at the time and take a picture.

Jacob can successfully get under his exerscaucer but can't seem to figure out how to get out so Daddy has to come to the rescue every 10 minutes. Jacob also gets stuck under our barstolls.

Jacob and Daddy ready for their first Father son bonding in the woods. Jason and Jacob went for a long walk in the woods so that mom could get a few things done before lunch.

Lastly, Mom & Dad do have a life! We went out for dinner with the Slagh's in Grand Rapids last night. It was Jacob's first time having a babysitter put him to bed other than Grandparents. He did great!!!

Halloween Cookie Party

This afternoon I had my sixth grade girls from RUSH over for a little Halloween cookie party. They had so much fun and made such a mess! (For those of you who don't know I'm working with our middle school youth group at church this year.) I'm so amazed by how much you learn about kids by just spending a little time with them. I feel so blessed to be apart of their lives and feel that it was truly God's plan to have me working with the youth at our church in this capacity. Here is a picture of what the girls left for Jason! It was a fun afternoon and the mess was cleaned up in no time.