"Have You Heard the One About the Baby and the Raisin?..."

Hi friends,
Jack here.  I have some very big news to share with you.  I am 6 weeks and 4 days old today.  I am hitting every milestone with class.  I smile at my parents, more at my Mommy, but that's because I know she needs it.  She tends to get emotional when I'm upset.  Right now I don't mind because it gets me what I want, but if she cries when I'm in jr. high in front of my friends, we may have to have a talk.  But that's not what we're here to talk about...


After having my black bellybutton for a very long time, I decided to let it go on my 6 week birthday.  No one is more thrilled than my Daddy.  For some reason he couldn't stand the thing.  But I wasn't going to let this event happen casually, instead I wanted a bang!  So, we were all laying in bed Thursday morning, I just finished my morning meal and Mommy picked me up to change my diaper when all of the sudden Daddy let out a yelp!  He said, "What is a raisin doing in our bed?!!  IT'S HIS BELLY BUTTON!!!"  Mommy got a big kick out of that.  What can I say, my developmental achievements aren't all that glamorous.  But I do keep things interesting around here.

Here's my brand new bellybutton!

Also, my social security card came in the mail.  I'm official!  However, I doubt I'll ever get to collect my piece of the pie, it's still nice to have my name on an official document. 

Although I don't have any credit, whatsoever, I am taking proper measures to protect my identity.

Takin' It Back to Thanksgiving.

Well, Cowboy Jack had quite the adventure over the Thanksgiving weekend.  He partied with his Aunt Pudzie, Nana & Gramps.  He also spent the day with 4 of his Great-Grandparents.  Needless to say he did not suffer from attention.  After helping Nana and Gramps put up their tree we went home to pack for a weekend in Branson.

He traveled pretty well for the first time.  Jack has now experienced Silver Dollar City at Christmas time and the original Bass Pro.  We had a blessed weekend with family and lots of laughter.  He met his Great Aunt Dodi and Uncle Doug, as well as his cousins Shalyn and Daniel.

I've Been Doing Some Growing...

"Hello, my name in Jack...Cowboy Jack to be exact.  I haven't taken the time yet to talk to you all, so I thought I would fill you in on my life.  I am now a month old.  I have disobeyed my mother by continuing to grow, but I am not sure that is a punishable crime.  I'll get back to you on how it plays out.  I love to eat and sleep.  I am a pro, I have been since the day I was born.  Sometimes in the mornings and evenings I like to eat 4 or 5 times.  It's hard work and I usually like to take a nap in between my snacks.  They can't say that I don't give them a warning that I am hungry.  When I am getting that craving for a meal I get the 'Hungry Hungry Hiccups'. Lately, my parents have been trying to keep me up until 11 (which used to be my party time) so that I'll sleep through the night.  I think I'm pretty good to them.  I've made it through a few nights, but hey, it's lonely in my cradle and sometimes I just like to have another little snack and to snuggle up with them.  I don't think they mind too much."

"I giggle, smile, coo, and cry."

"My digestive system is working very well"

"My arms are in constant motion and my fingernails grow at an incredible rate"

Here I am when I was brand new to the world.

This is a shot of me when I was a little over 1 week old.

This is me at 2 weeks old.  This was my outfit that I wore to church for the first time.  The only two times I wore these shoes I managed to stick them in my dirty diaper and Mommy has been trying to bleach them.  That's how I figured out that I could get out of my church clothes and into my Cowboy clothes.  I try to tell mom, all I need is a pair of Wranglers and a Pearl-Snap.

Why, Oh Why...This was my 3 week photo shoot.  Enough said.

 Here I am at, you guessed it, 4 weeks.  I have big feet and long toes.

1 Month Old!  I don't know why I am naked and on a piece of furniture, but Mommy thought it would be cute.  She might have been right.  This was done quickly, so I have a feeling I will have to get back up there soon.

Jack Jack Jack.

I am so blessed to be Jack's mom.  I embrace my new identity fully.  I tell him all the time how much I love him and I want him to get the most out of life and to walk with Jesus on a daily basis.  And as much as I can't wait for him to grow and experience all that this life has to offer, I secretly would rather him stay small and cuddled up in my arms.  He has stolen my heart and I doubt that I will ever get it back.  Andrew is my first love and Jack is following closely in his father's footsteps.

Thank you Lord for the blessing of being my son's Mommy.

Meet My Boys.

Here are my two favorite boys in the whole wide world...

Cute... It Runs In Our Family.

A few weeks ago I had the privilege of taking pictures of our nephew and niece.  They are two of the cutest kiddos on the face of the planet.  Our baby is so lucky to be blessed with cousins that know how things get done.  I never knew how much I would look forward to watching our babies play and grow up together.  The family vacations will never be the same.  We love you Rhett (who was 1, yesterday) and Bonnie (who is about to be 8 months old).

These were from  Rhett's 1 year shoot.

 This was Bon Bon's 8 month shoot.

Home Sweet Home.

   We are now proud homeowners!  We had a dynamite team sweep in for the weekend and help us paint almost everything.  I am on my last day of Nanny-hood and have several boxes to unpack on the horizon.  Being the control freak that I am, it was tough to have to be away while everyone was painting.  But I had nothing to worry about, they did a fantastic job.  The only thing left is the nursery and I have a "professional"...my cousin Sarah, coming to help us finish strong.
   Since Andrew and I were so separated during the move, we still do not have the picture of us standing in front of the house, holding the keys.  Have no fear, I will make it happen :)  We could not have done it without our families and friends.  These days, everybody is busy, very busy, and it is so humbling when time is taken from a busy schedule to help you.  My gratitude runs very deep.  Andrew's mom told me I could repay them by having a healthy baby in the fall. :)  I am trying my best to give them that gift.  It is my prayer to our good Lord.

The Word Is Craft...When Did I Stop???

So, I was revisiting some of the things I have made in the past year and I forgot how much I loved it.  I believe it was around the time that I found out I was expecting a little bundle of joy that my craftiness slowed down.  I like to think that I am saving up for when the baby gets here, but I know better than that.  Here are those pictures I was looking at...see ya next year, sewing machine.  Or until I pick out the fabric to make the nursery bedding. :)

Here is a combo of a nursing cover and burp clothes I made for someone.

Here's another nursing cover/burp cloth set plus some felt shoes I made for my niece. :)

Now, these onesies are how we broke the news to Andrew's sister's family and my brother's family.

I made these in the size that our niece and nephew will be at the time our baby is born...except I think Bon Bon might have out-grown it. :)

For Mother's Day I made handkerchiefs for the woman in my family.  

I lucked into a great fabric called "Granny's Hankies" 

I was able to cut out the individual patterns and simply put a finishing zigzag stitch around the edge.

And that was a craft year in review.

1 Blissful Year

  Last Monday, April 19th, we celebrated our first anniversary of marriage.  This is has seemed like one of the fastest and craziest years of my life.  We are constantly being showered with blessings from above.  And my marriage is a reminder of a quote that my good friend, George W. Bush, said  "God is good...All the time!"  If I were a single woman and if Andrew were a single man, the same would still be true.  I am so grateful for my life and my husband.

Our delicious Anniversary Dessert

The Same Old You.

  I was confessing to my husband the other day how I wish people would just say I look pregnant (since they know that I am now), instead of telling me how they think I look the same as always.  When you can't button your pants and you've put on a few pounds, this stops becoming a compliment.  :)  I really don't mind, these people are my friends, how do I know that they want me to feel good???   Because the woman at the health food store, who is not my friend, not yet at least, said, "You are showing a lot more than I ever did at 12 weeks."  I love her for her honesty, but you know that was not said for the amount of love for me.  haha  So, my friends, she outed you.  She could see the difference.

  There isn't much that could bring me down these days, that is, in regards to my baby bump.  I love it!  I feel like the most beautiful woman in the world...more beautiful than I have ever felt.  I have a new life inside of me.   Andrew does a fantastic job of reminding me how attracted he is to me.  Really, he's the only one I care about finding me attractive.  (Like you didn't already know that.)  Basically, I love everyone's excitement.  It's such a blessing to see how many people are already loving our sweet baby.  Everything about our experience is a gift from the Lord.  There's no doubt about it to us...and you can't change our mind!

We're Having a Baby!!!

We are pleased to announce to the world...or whoever my stumble upon our blog...that we are joining the ranks of parenthood.  Our little one will be joining us in late October.  We are praying and loving as best we can on the little lime that inside me.  Next week it'll be a plum.  God is so good.  I find comfort in the fact that He is so much bigger than I am, and that whatever excitements and challenges come our way in the next nine months (not to mention the next fifty years) He will be our strength and our guide.  Thanks for sharing in our excitement.  I can't wait to start sewing some maternity pieces that I have found on some of these crafty blogs. :)  

Here he/she is the size of a grape.

Famous Last Words: "I Could Make That"...

So, I have this problem. This world is full of cute crafts, yummy food, precious sewing projects, and rustic decor. My problem is, that every time I see something that I fall in love with and look at the price tag, I then say, " Oh I could totally make that for so much less". And usually I am right, but the amount of time and investment in supplies tend to interrupt this perfect plan that I have schemed up in my mind. Since Andrew and I are always looking for a house or dreaming about our rustic mansion we will some day build (full of heavy timbers), occasionally the reality hits that my dream furniture consumes all of our retirement. My poor husband ends up being infected by my famous last words, because I will look at those beautiful pieces and say "Honey, you could make that...easy". Yesterday I stumbled upon a new favorite blog about making furniture that looks like the fantastic Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware. It's called Knock Off Wood. My project list just increased by 100 (that is when we have a place to put it all). I highly recommend heading over there and taking a look at what all Ana has to offer...for free!

An Island I will be making someday...

Our Crazy Pups!

We have two very wonderful water dogs! They live for a sunny day when Andrew and I take them out to a body of water (this time at my parent's house) to splash and play. I love sunny days!

Bonnie Alaine Justus

Our worlds have been truly blessed by a brand new member of our family.  Our niece, Bonnie, arrived on Feb. 3, 2010 with style.  She has some strong lungs and loves to squeak.  We think she is the most beautiful girl in the world.  It is such a blessing from our Great God to have nieces and nephews.  We love them equally and cannot wait to do all kinds of fun things with them as they grow.  God bless Andy, Meagan, and Baby Bon Bon.

i.love.barns.

Barns...they might be one of the most wonderful things on this earth.

Some of the new barns are very function, but they lack the appearance of a story.

Maybe it's the chipped paint or the old wood, but there is something about them.

And maybe it's the fact that I didn't have one to play in as a child, so they seem rare and special.

Barns...you've got to love 'em.