My growing boy!

I took Jackson to the doctor yesterday for his 2 month checkup. I am so proud of my growing boy! He's now up to a whopping 14 lbs 6 oz and is 24.5 inches long. His eyes are bright blue and the doc says they will stay that way and I am thrilled that I will forever be able to gaze into those dreamy blue eyes! The doctor was impressed with how alert he was... especially when Little Jack heard his mommy's voice and he turned his head and flashed a darling grin. Talk about making my heart melt! Matt comes home in two days and I can't wait for him to see that same handsome smile! Jackson's pediatrician had hoped that LARGE hernia would be repaired by now... but that won't happen for another 3 weeks. I need to get an updated picture of him... I will do that for sure this weekend, if not before!

A smile not to be forgotten

We are blessed to be part of an amazing family... loving aunts and uncles, dozens of cousins and a grandmother to lead us all. Sometimes the closest of families suffer a jolting heartache... and ours did this week. Our handsome cousin, Luke, was taken from this world much too soon. His contagious smile and laughter will forever be etched in my mind. The only thing that offers some peace and comfort is knowing I can throw my arms around his broad shoulders and see that smile again someday. I am also grateful to know he's with our grandfather Keith and Uncle Keith who also left us much too soon. We love you, Luke, you will forever be a part of our family and memories.

My hot surfer husband!

So... this summer my hot husband is living in sunny California! He's working hard, but also strengthening his skills in the waves! I've always loved to watch him surf and so far he's helped me catch some waves on the boogie board... but I hope to give surfing a try someday. Now we've got a sweet RIDE thanks to the Surfing U.S. Open at Huntington Beach, California!

Here you can see the crowds watching the competition... no Matt isn't quite 'there' with his skillz yet, but close ;)

Here's Matt's friend, JR. They are old friends and now business partners. You know... the friends who kill bugs together, stay together :)

Now here's Matt by one sweet surfboard... yep that's his! With only minutes before a big drawing for a $1000 surfboard, he decided to try his luck. Looks like he was certainly lucky that day! He won!!!

Now, here's my hottie husband doing his interviews with the news crews. Yep, he's a pretty big deal :) Sorry California babes... he's taken.

Good job honey... way to win a surfboard! Now I'll work on my muscles and my balance so you can teach me how to use your old one!

"Where's the butter?"

I should really start a column of Madee's quotes! It seems like she's making me laugh every day with something she says! Today it happened at church... Me and my two kids are sitting in the very back row (it was a PACKED house today!)as the sacrament was being passed. As we took the bread, my dear daughter looks at me and says, "Mama, where's the butter?!" It took everything in me not to laugh out loud. She was so cute sitting there wondering how she could possibly eat bread without butter! Oh she's such a fun girl. Well, Jackson is letting me know that my time is up with this post... but I'll have a new one by tomorrow with a fun story from Matt's day in California!

Madelyn and Jackson's Photos

My blog debut!

Well, my husband is going to be so proud of me! I've finally got a family blog! So much is going on and this will be a great way to share what's happening in our life! Madelyn is now 2 1/2 years old and she is so much fun!!! She is talking like an adult and says the funniest things. Jackson is 8 weeks old and he's such a big boy! It was too funny when we went to lunch today and a Grandpa asked me if I needed money for food. I told him, "No thanks, I'm okay" with a smile and he joked that it looked like my baby was starving! Ha ha ha! It was too funny! Matt is hard at work in California and we miss him terribly, but are proud of him at the same time. He'll be home lots in the next few weeks. For some fun things, and not-so-fun things. Madelyn is scheduled to have her tonsils and adenoids out and to have a tube put her in right ear. Jackson has an Inguinal Hernia that is extremely large and he will have that repaired at Primary Children's Medical Center. Mommy feels so grateful that his surgeon is an excellent one. He was even involved in the separation of the Herrin Twins last year. You might have seen video on the news of him carrying Kendra out of the operating room just moments after they were separated. Good thing our kids are tough cookies, we know they are going to come out just fine. We feel so extremely blessed to have them in our lives and we are so grateful to recognize they are the most important part of our life.