Trip To The Flatlands (Indiana and Illinois :)

Well we made it (insert big sigh here).  I flew with Jack to Indiana last week.  Jay had to work so he stayed home with the dogs.  We had an AMAZING trip.  I was definitely worried about flying alone with a 7 month old baby, but it was successful.   Jack was a complete angel.  He was either smiling, eating or sleeping on all of the planes.  He got SO many "good/cute baby" complements.  I was very proud.  No meltdowns, fits, nothing.  After each plane landed we had people say, wow, I didn't even know there was a baby on the plane, just what I wanted.  I am sure it will get more difficult as his personality develops and he becomes more mobile. 

               Jack packing for his trip.

We stayed at my parents house for most of the trip, with 1 few day trip to Illinois to see friends and family.  I love going to my parent's home.  It is very comfortable and cozy.  Jack loved it there.  He slept very well, played with all his toys, and went on walks and hikes.  We planted flowers and hung out outside a lot in their gorgeous yard.  My parents loved spending this time with us.  We saw my friend Staci and Alli while I was there.  Mom, Jack, and I went to Illinois to stay with my friend Andrea.  They all loved him and I am so glad my friends got to meet the little guy.  After Mt. Vernon we headed up to Springfield so Jack could meet his Great Gaga, Aunt Margy, Uncle Willie, cousins Blake and Maddy.  It was a blast.  Seeing him with these family members was so neat.  The cousins loved playing with him, feeding him, and helping with diapers.  I tried to convince my Aunt to send them out for the summer to watch and entertain him, but I don't think that's going to happen.  I am so blessed to have such great family members (on both sides!) and friends. 

        He is laying on one of my baby blankets
                              
Jack is home now and sleeping, he was up a lot last night, but now I think he is catching up.  He is starting to look like a little boy, growing up WAY to fast.  He is very very active, never likes to sit still.  There is too much exploring to do!  He is holding his bottle pretty well.  No crawling yet, but he can army crawls very fast.  We are starting to baby proof the house because of this.  He loves dogs.  All dogs, not just his own.  Well that's the update for now. 

XOXO
Emily

Jack's Baptism

My my the last few weeks have been crazy.  Last night was the 1st time in 2 and 1/2 weeks we were alone as a family.  We are all great.  We had a fun filled Easter/baptism/family visit, but it is nice now that things have settled down.  Jay's parents, sister, and grandmom flew to Missoula to celebrate Jack's baptism at the Episcopal Church.  My parents also came in town and my sister lives here.  Kiley and Ashley were and are the BEST godmothers a baby could ask for.  Everything was really nice except that Jack was deathly ill with a bad virus for a week.  He has had colds and fevers, but nothing quite like this.  It was so sad to see my little baby so sick and feeling so bad.  I also felt bad for all the relatives that came all the way to Montana and they didn't get to experience the true Jack.  Our funny, bouncy sweet little boy was a pile of mush.   He didn't want to be held by anyone but mom or dad, he fussed, wouldn't sleep day OR night, and was just miserable.  Towards the end of the trip he started to get a little back to normal so they had some fun time with him.  Jack got baptized at the Easter vigil service on the Saturday night before Easter.  It was a beautiful candle lit service with fresh flowers.  Jack made it to the baptism, barely.  I had to twist Jay's arm to get him to leave church early with Jack after he got baptized :)  The next day we had a brunch after church.  It was at a nice restaurant on the river that flows through town.  The weather over the weekend was sunny and warm so we spent a lot of time outside.  We are very lucky that Jack has such a loving and involved extended family.  We had so much fun!

                        This is the storyboard our photographer made.
             
2 hours before my parents were due to fly home to the cornfields of Indiana, Jay got a call from work asking him to go work in South Dakota for 8 days.  I was working also so we convinced my mom (not much "convincing" was needed) to stay an extra week and a 1/2 to watch Jack so I could still work my normal schedule and Jay could go work in South Dakota.  So, tickets were changed and she stayed to help with Jack.  I experienced what it would be like to be a celebrity and have a nanny.  She worked her tail off, made me breakfast every morning, did EVERYTHING for Jack, grocery shopping, dinners, cleaning, laundry, it was amazing.  We had a lot of fun spending so much time together and she relished every minute with me, but mostly her time spent with Jack.  I tried to convince her to stay another 2 weeks until me and Jack are flying to Indiana, but she declined.  I am sure she is resting now at home recovering from her "vacation" :)  Jay had a good hitch in South Dakota.   He said it was really beautiful country.  The town was in the middle of nowhere USA, and I say town very loosely.  The population of Camp Crook, South Dakota at the 2010 census was 68, not 68 hundred, just 68.  Cell service was HOURS away, but luckily he had a bunk house phone so he could call me.  He said it was awful being away from Jack for that long.  Last night when he got home Jack was very excited to see him.  I tried to teach him to say dada while Jay was gone, but the only things he says are screams and squawks.  We are going to lay low this weekend.  I went for a hike this morning and Jay is working in the garden.  We might head downtown to the Garden City Brewfest this afternoon.  Hope everyone else has a wonderful May weekend!

Lots of Love, Emily