Weekend

Last weekend, we went to the Bellevue Arts Festival. It was amazing! Artists from all over came to Bellevue to showcase their work. I was unable to take pictures of the amazing displays, but if we were on an unlimited budget, I would have bought the place out! There were oil paintings, photography, ceramics, wood work, clothing and so much more.

The Bellevue Police were showing their support and letting kids pose on a motorcycle.

We went out to PF Chang's for dinner, here is Jacob taking a drink. He LOVES drinking from straws, we don't even have to monitor him, he knows when to stop and swallow. He started this about a month ago and can't get enough of it. He is becoming addicted to iced tea (thanks grandma) and he loves Nate's Arnold Palmer (half iced tea, half lemonade - Nate's favorite drink). Jacob is becoming such a big boy!

Jacob is growing out of his favorite toy, he loves his bouncy!

We have been working on walking lately, Jake is really doing well. He is walking holding onto my hands and has taken a few first steps on his own! He is also talking A LOT, I cannot emphasize a lot enough. He talks nonstop - all day. But it's really cute (although I enjoy the quiet time during naps as well) he is saying ma-ma frequently and da-da at the top of his lungs. He is discovering putting sounds together and playing around with them. He makes me laugh!

Astoria Trip

We took a long weekend trip down to Astoria, Nate's hometown for a mini-family reunion. We had such a great time seeing family. Thank you Jeff, Anneke, Kelly, Lisa and David for making the trip over from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho! Hopefully next year, we can have our reunion out there. Here are some pictures of our trip (along with some Astoria history)...

The Astoria Column is a known symbol for the Northwest. It was built in 1926 and stands 125 feet tall, 600 feet above sea level. I have yet to walk up it (Nathan doesn't care for heights) but there is 164 steps to the top!

View of the Astoria-Megler Bridge that connects Oregon and Washington

View from the column showing the bridge and the mouth of the Columbia River

View from Nathan's dad's back porch

Youngs River Waterfall

Here is what is left of the Peter Iredale Ship! The ship was driven ashore in 1906, after waiting several weeks to tow the ship out, the ship became embedded in the sand.

This was Jacob's first trip to the beach!

Feeling sand for the first time

Okay, he's done feeling sand for the first time...

Nathan, David, and Jacob out on the jetty (yes, I was freaking out)!

Our friends Laurel and James came over to the hotel to visit us while Maggie and the girls were there! The girls are getting so big and are so cute and cuddly!

Whitney

Kennedy

Getting ready to head down to the Sunday Market

Jacob crashed in his stroller - a woman at the market said to her husband, "oh, look at that, he's so cute sleeping there!" It took me a second to realize she was talking about Jake, Nate and I had no idea Jacob had fallen asleep, he usually is too interested in his surroundings and refuses to take naps. It was adorable!

Jacob LOVES to grab people's glasses and the little guy is QUICK! Nate decided to hand them over one evening, we thought he looked so cute!

Let me out of here!

Our buddy JP came over this morning for a few hours, Jacob had a blast! They played with toys and read books and Jacob have JP lots of hugs

Guest Bathroom Remodel: Complete

The guest bathroom (aka Nathan's bathroom) is finally complete... well, we still need base molding - but according to me, it's done! Nathan picked out the bathroom colors and all the products (with my approval of course).

Here are some before pictures:

Nathan hard at work:

After:




On another note - Jacob is feeling much better, today was his first day without a fever. He slept Sunday night from 10pm-9:30am without waking up once, and followed up with sleeping all day yesterday. I think Jake was only awake for about 3 hours out of the day and with a good night sleep last night, he is back to himself.

First Fever

Well, it took 10 months before our first fever... Poor Jacob is not feeling very well the last few days. I took him into the doctor on Wednesday for a cough and he was waking himself up from sleeping gasping for air. Jacob had a minor chest cold, no fever, so we got medicine to take for 5 days (which Jake takes like a champ)!

On Friday morning, Jacob had a slight fever but seemed to be feeling okay, just coughing some, but by Friday night, he had a temperature of 101 degrees. We got him down to his diaper, gave him a sippie cup full of water and ice (which he drank almost all of it), had some Tylenol and a lukewarm bath. By bedtime, his temperature was down and had no problem going to sleep.

By 4:30am, I woke up Nate because Jacob was extremely warm, and his temperature was back up, but to 103 this time. Again, more Tylenol and he was so tired, he went back to sleep. A few hours later, off to the doctor yet again... his chest cold has gotten worse, now has an ear infection (which he is not tugging on his ears at all) and had a temperature of 101. So, we are on 2 medications, plus Tylenol and Ibuprofen every 3 hours, rotating medicines. But, all in all, Jacob is playing right now, talking up a storm, running around in his diaper and being himself. He isn't too interested in a bottle or food, but loved his popsicle! We hope you feel better soon munchkin, it's sad to see my little guy feeling yucky!

Happy 4th of July

Happy Fourth of July!

We had a great 4th, we went down to the waterfront to a festival and to watch fireworks. Jacob did wonderful, he just sat and watched all the lights in the sky (or boom-a-lights as Nate called them as a child) he didn't cry or fuss at all. Holidays are even more special now that we get to experience them with our son.

Here are some pictures from the night:

Jacob hanging out with grandma waiting for the fireworks (can you see his bottom 2 teeth)?

Jacob loves to observe his surroundings... when is the age when it's rude to stare?

Jacob has been working on standing, it's incredible to watch! Just this last week, he is balancing well and holding his stance while drinking out of his sippie cup or chewing on a toy. I tend to get teary eyed when he does this, he is growing up so fast and it's fascinating to watch him. I am usually not one to get emotional and cry, but now I find myself getting choked up when Jake's first tooth appeared, when he started walking holding onto furniture and now... standing. Oh my goodness, what am I going to do when he learns his multiplication tables or paints his first picture, I am going to be a wreck! Guess motherhood turns you into a sap!

Jacob will go from sitting on his knees to standing, after a bit, he will either fall right down on his butt or sometimes he will lower himself slowly to the ground.


Another curiosity photo - always wanting to know what is going on around him. This was watching a police officer on a motorcycle pulling someone over.

Jake's new toy box! (Courtesy of Grandma) It's great, the lid stays open so Jacob can get his toys in and out and it keeps the house organized (I am a bit of an organizing fanatic, if you didn't already know).

He is really into books, he will take looking at a book over any toy. Loves to turn the pages and have us read to him.

Over the last week, Jacob REFUSES to get diaper changes or clothing changes. He used to be great about this, no problem, no fuss, no rolling over. Now, it takes at least 2 people (which will be a problem during the day for me) or at least 10 minutes of my time for a changing. I am hoping this phase is short lived. So, here he is running around naked yesterday morning. Notice the strategically placed diaper (he gets camera shy).

Finally, the diaper is on... now if I could just get him dressed!

When Nate got home from work the other day, I ran over to the grocery store and asked Nathan to feed Jacob while I was gone. Nate said during the feeding, Jake got so tired he could not hold his eyes open any longer and fell asleep right in his high chair! He has never done this before, Jacob is very picky about where he sleeps. Unfortunately, he is not the type to just crash on the floor or his crib because he is worn out, he needs to be rocked or needs someone to lay down next to him.

Nate was able to move him from the high chair to the rocking chair, but was unable to clean off the broccoli, carrots and cheese baby food. Too cute!