Jack's One Year Photo Shoot

Back at the very end of August we did a photo session for Jack's upcoming 1st birthday.  This time around it was kids only and boy did the pictures turn out awesome!  Just for reference, Owen is wearing the suspenders, Mason the vest.

Thanks, Sleeping Owl Photography!

First Trophies Ever

To say the boys were excited about earning their very first trophy would be an understatement!  They finished their first season of soccer and LOVED it and it was a great exclamation point on the end of the season.

But first, here are a few action shots that I know they'll appreciate someday, because they're boys, and action shots are cool!

Owen stretching

Favorite stretch of the team because it meant you could also hit yourself in the face!

Jack's favorite lap to watch soccer games from

Jack's other favorite soccer-viewing lap

Mason

Mason again

Mason

If red cards were issued, Mason would have earned one for body slamming that kid to the ground.
Joking! The kid is 5. Five year olds fall over for no good reason.
But it makes a good story.

Owen's competitive soccer face?

Mason trying to take control, Owen coming in from the right for a pass.

Owen heading to the goal.

Okay, now all the kids JUMP!  Not really.  No idea why Owen and the blue kid are jumping.

Brother's working together (O, M)

Mason going to the goal.

Owen ready for a pass.

Cool shot! Go Mason!

End of season pizza and trophy party!

Precious 5 year olds being told by their coach what a great season they had.
Too funy they accidentally sat in number order! (M is #3, O is #2)

Owen, Mason, Coby, Kasen, and Hadrian

Learning that they will get trophies!!!  Every boy's dream!!

My sweet Mason getting his trophy!

My sweet Owen and Coach Kristi.

Excitement!

GO CAMEROON!!

Tough guy faces, and him on the end.

Silly faces

Mason!

Owen!

Mommy's Birthday (and some really proud 5 year olds)

On my actual birthday, my mom and I drug the kids on a shopping trip to a fun little boutique that had absolutely nothing for kids OR boys in it.  My sweet guys decided they would shop for a present to give me at dinner later that evening.  With the help of my mom, they each picked out a little necklace.  And OH MY GOSH were they proud!  The sales lady wrapped it up for them and let them use a silver marker to write their names.  They were SO excited that they had found something they just knew I'd like and even more excited to surprise me with it.  Mason kept saying "I'm so excited! I can't wait til tonight!"  Everything about it was adorable!

That night, we met up with my parents, sister, and our friends for dinner at El Alma.  Yum!  The boys gave me their gifts and they were beaming!  (See pictures!)  Even Jack gave me a little present (a magnetic stacking toy).  We have a little tradition that the kids give a gift that we can all enjoy together, like a book or game.  Aaron picked out a kids game for the big kids to give me, not knowing that they were going to do some shopping of their own.  Afterwards, my parents took all the kids and we went with our friends to see Ester's Follies on 6th Street.  Hilarious!  It was a great birthday celebrated with people I love, and people who love me back!  

Owen showing off his gift (look at that face)!

Sorry, had to include a pic of Mason's gift too.

Owen helping me open it.  Big ol smile!

Showing it off!

A pic with the little necklace.
It was a light green stone on a gold chain that just so happen
to match perfectly with the earrings from my sister!

Owen and Mommy - LOVE my sentimental little guy!

Mason intently helping me open my gift.

Look at his smile as I look at my necklace.  Adorable!

So proud!  He picked out a necklace that had 3 pearls on it because I have 3 boys!

Mommy and Mason - LOVE my thoughtful little snuggler!

Miss Emma and her beautiful birthday paintings!

Jack helping me open his gift.

Everybody's favorite time!  

With Desoree and Scott on 6th!

14 Months

Jack has been really turning into a little person lately.  He is still interested in 'things' (mainly lights, balls, and wheels), but his interpersonal relationships have really been developing.  It is very exciting to see!

At 14 months, Jack:

• uses several words regularly: 
• dada, hi (usually repeats this over and over when he is excited to see you)
• light (ight)
• pumpkin (pungin)
• ball, button (buuuh-buh)
• banana (nana, and he will request this favorite treat by name)
• bottle (baba, calls sippy cups this too).
• FINALLY will walk holding fingers!
• is unhappily giving up his bottles.  The last to go has been the bedtime bottle routine that Jack and I share.  We are trying to replace it with a mellow story time, which he sometimes finds acceptable and sometimes does NOT!  
• enjoys emptying and refilling containers.
• knows which lid goes to certain containers.
• loves to initiate games, especially with his brothers!
• makes "vrooming" noises when playing with cars and trucks and is mesmerized by wheels.  If he's ever in a bad mood or restless, just show him something with a wheel (a suitcase, my grandmother's walker...) and better yet, turn it on it's side so the wheel can spin freely.
• thanks to Mason's teachings, when asked what a train says he says "too too" while pretending to pull on whistle cord.
• responds to instructions. My favorite is when he gives kisses! :)
• since he hasn't started walking yet, but has found the need for more speed while crawling, he has figured out that if he ducks head as he's crawling he goes (or thinks he goes) faster.  He also does this if he's really excited and crawling away from someone who is trying to "get" him.  (Started this closer to 13 months).  Most recently he has started bear crawling everywhere for the same reason.  We chuckle because it reminds us of the evolution of man picture.
• puts my phone to ear and says "hi."  He was doing this at 13 months as well and it was one of the first (if not the first) thing I noticed him copying.
• grabs the remote control and holds it toward the TV, with disappointing results.
• brushes hair if you hand him his baby brush. 
• likes to take quick snuggle breaks with Mommy during play time.  He also likes getting up in people's laps to read books (will hand you a book), cuddle, or play.  The other day he was sitting in Aaron's lap playing with something and when Aaron tried to transfer him to the floor, Jack made it known that he was not cool with that and climbed right back up.
• will let go of furniture for a few seconds and three times has stood up on his own without the help of furniture.
• has discovered the joy of climbing but has not discovered the joy of getting back down safely!  This kid will scamper up a slide, playground ladder, staircase, etc in a hot second.  He'll also climb on any furniture that is low enough for him!  This is going to be the kid who climbs the railing on the OUTSIDE of the staircase and gets himself in a pickle 6 feet off the ground.
• loves to flop on the couch and in the pillows (maybe we ought to move the couch and all it's pillows to underneath the staircase!).
• loves granddaddy!!
• still eats like he has a hollow leg.
• loves to imitate others.  One day I did a little laugh at something Jack did and he did the laugh right back at me.
• is starting to actually play with his brothers for any length of time.
• dances to music that his toys make.
• is not afraid of the big slides at the playground and will launch himself down them whether you're there to catch him or not.