Welcome Matthew Hunter!

Yes... another one!
Congratulations to my college roomie Heather and her husband Josh. Heather gave birth to a precious baby boy, Matthew Hunter Clark, on Thursday night. Matthew weighed in at a healthy 7 lbs, 11 oz and is too cute... even if he does look like his daddy. Way to go you guys. I think you should hang on to this one.

The Clarks... a brand new family!

The Girls - Auntie Jenny's missing
Me... just doing what I do best!Mama and Jack at the hospital

Michelle's big boy Brody. I think he's realizing he's not the youngest anymore!

Several photos courtsey of Michelle - Thanks!

No pictures...

I just wanted to post some exciting news... no, we're not expecting. However, I did buy some size 8 pants yesterday. SIZE 8! May not be exciting for you but it certainly is for me. As of Tuesday I've lost 24.4 lbs on Weight Watchers. That's more than Jack weighs if that helps you to put things into perspective. I can't believe I was lugging all that extra weight around - I must've been exhausted. Ok, that's all. I'll try to control my giddyness!

Now I've seen it all...

Let me preface this by saying that I have no problem with tattoos. Folks that have them are probably a little braver than me (maybe, I did have a natural childbirth). Tats are for adults; grown people who can make sound decisions - even if that decision is made after a night of raucous partying.

Tattoos are not for children. Except if you are acclaimed body artist Jesse Stone - I only know he's acclaimed because his website said he was. He started a company called Tattoo Your Toddler - http://www.tattooyourtoddler.com/. Ok, so the tattoo is not technically "permanent" but it does last 10 years - 10 YEARS! That's pretty darn near permanent from a kid's perspective! I can see Jack deciding in a couple of years that he wants a Thomas the Tank Engine tattoo. I highly doubt that he'll appreciate that same picture of Thomas on his bicep when he's 13. This makes no sense to me. What was wrong with the temporary tattoos you got out of the vending machine at the grocery store? You know, the ones that were supposed to be laced with some type of hallucinogenic drug. Definitely a better choice. Hmmm... maybe, just maybe, we could try to let kids remain unblemished til they're at least 18 and can make this decision on their own - or at least with a little help from their college buddies.

Photo courtsey of www.jockconference.com

Readin' and ridin'

Evidently, it's a dangerous thing to do. After making it nearly a year unscathed, aside from a few little fingernail scratches and the time I whacked his head on the changing table, Little Man has carved a canyon (a little exaggeration never hurt) on his face. Jack was riding in the car yesterday and playing with a board book. As I was driving, he pitched a little fit; not unusual by any means when we're in the car. Well, upon arriving at our destination (Target, of course) I discover the reason for the fit. Apparrently, Jack injured himself while reading. Yes, reading. I'm not quite sure how he did it but he's got a pretty good scratch across his forehead, just in time for his birthday party this weekend. Perfect.

A swingin' good time

Thank God the folks that lived here before us had kids. They left behind their swingset and we are soooo glad about that! Jack has so much fun in the swing. He squeals and squeals and really loves it when Mama or Daddy swings beside him. It's wonderful, the way he fills the backyard with sounds of pure joy!

Yea Haw... or not so much

We went to Gigi and Pappaw's on Saturday for Gigi's Birthday Celebration Part Deux. Jack tried on some of Pappaw's old cowboy hats. He wasn't a huge fan - not that he's much of a fan of any hat on his head these days.

The hats weren't a big hit...
... but the ice cream was. I call this "Ice Cream Drunk".
What a mess!

Dad's so proud

Here it is folks... the perfect 3-point-stance. Our little linebacker's been in extensive training and he's ready for football season. Sure, it'll be a few years before he can take out some 7-year-olds on the pop-warner circut but he's ready. Look out t-sippers!He'll be leading the Aggie Wrecking Crew before you know it!

Welcome Victoria Jean!

Our close friends Kim and Carey, along with big brother Riley welcomed a precious bundle yesterday evening. Little Victoria Jean Thompson is absolutley beautiful and we are so excited for her to be here! Congratulations Thompson Family!

My kitchen!

Ok, another project down! I textured and painted the kitchen. I like it soooo much better than the yucky berry wallpaper that was there. Me and wallpaper... NOT friends. Now that it's painted Jason wants to redo the countertops more than ever. We've got to take a bit of a remodeling break before we do that. Here are the before and afters!

Before

After

Before

Before

After

Happy Birthday Gigi!

We celebrated Gigi's 39th (wink, wink) birthday on Saturday. We really enjoyed spending time with the family and I think we may have even unveiled Jack's alter-ego, SuperJack!

It's not me... I am NOT SuperJack. Ignore the cape.
Gigi get's a little crazy around her birthday!Mama's so excited to be in front of the camera for once!

Welcome back Jude!

... and Camron! Our good friends have been away in Canada for what seemed like forever! We're so glad y'all are back so you can defrost before your little girl arrives. Jack really missed his buddy Jude.

Snap, snap, snap!

It's been nearly 2 weeks since I've posted so, needless to say, I have a lot of pics to share. Enjoy!

Good Morning!

Being outside is so much fun!
Flyin' high!

The Fam

In Mama's favorite green shirt!
They're making me do push-ups now.
Swinging with Daddy!
This picture would've been much better if Mama hadn't focused on Daddy's feet!Can I pleeeeease go outside?!

Ooooh! The camera!

Bed Head

Jack's hair's getting longer and I'm amazed to see the forms it takes when he wakes up. It's pretty hilarious.

11 Months Old!

Only one more month til Jack's ONE! I can hardly believe it. This time last year I was having the last of my showers, cleaning like a maniac, and eating pineapple like... well, something that really likes pineapple. We had quite a busy 11 month-day today. We ran some errands and then went to Dallas to have lunch with Daddy (...something we're trying to do more often since Dada often leaves before Little Man wakes up and gets home after bedtime. Only40 days til the end of tax season!). We napped, we played, we watered the grass. Jack enjoyed his first grilled cheese sandwich for dinner (Mama enjoyed the half he didn't eat). Lots of fun ensued in a lavender scented bubble bath; after which Jack proceeded to play for a bit in the buff before we put his jammies on. He even went to bed without protest - he just babbled for a bit and then went right to sleep. I still can't believe I'm someone's mom - and that someone just happens to be the most adorable blond-haired, blue-eyed little munchkin. Jackster, you couldn't possibly know how much Mama loves you.

Zzzzz...

We started the Sleep Sense program nearly a week ago and I don't remember the last time I spent as much time between the sheets. We're still in the early stages of "sleep training" the little guy but things are going swimmingly. It's funny, before, when we'd put Jack to bed we'd walk around on tiptoe just to go to our bedroom and were worried that flushing our toilet might wake Little Man. Now, we can carry on as usual and not worry. Not only does he sleep longer but he sleeps sounder. Otherwise, I wouldn't have had a snowballs chance of getting this picture without waking him up.

Old friends, new babies, good times

Jack and I met up with a couple of Mama's friends from good ol' Aggieland today. Michelle brought her little guy, Brody and Elizabeth brought along her new addition, Cole. It's amazing for me to see these little ones and remember back just over a year ago when I was in their shoes. These babies, they change so much in such a short time. Man, if you'd have asked the 3 of us if we expected to be lunching at Northpark with our baby boys 7 years later we might've laughed you out of the room! Anyway - Girlies, Jack and I had a ball today. We've got to make this a regular thing!

Fun times, fun times...

Jack looooves rice - very messy!

So cool with his collar "popped"!

Concentration definitely requires your tongue being visible... just ask Michael Jordan!

Riley, give me your drink. I NEED your drink!It's like alphabet soup, only in the tub and not so tasty.There's that "million-dollar smile" Yaya's always talking about.Perfecting his star-throwing technique. I think he'll be a ninja.