The Zoo

Well, I didn't get to the Zoo on Friday with Jacob like I had hoped (way too cold) but the Luce Trio made it there today. It was such a gorgeous day and made it up to around 60 with lots of sun.

We all had a great time, especially Jacob. He got to see lots of animals including an elephant,a tiger,and whatever it is he's looking at here, and here.
Jacob got very worn out but must have loved it because he was very chatty on the drive home.

Then, about an hour late for his nap and 45 minutes into our hour drive home, he passed out asleep.

It was one of the best days ever!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to anyone who is reading this. We have a lot to be thankful for in our family and I hope you do as well.

First, I must go back nearly a month (that long already?!) and show you a photo of our little "skeleton" from Halloween.

I also have to share a few photos from last weekend. Jacob was grabbing one book after another from the bookshelf (sci-fi paperbacks not child-friendly hardbacks), then pulling himself up onto the coffee table to "read" to himself. As soon as he was done with one book he would scramble back off the table, grab another book and then back up he'd go. I think what he was reading was something along the lines of "dubb-a-dubb-a-zubby-dub", but it was just too cute!
Funny thing was, he normally tries to eat books like a billy goat - heck he'll even grab his board books and run behind a chair, squat down and start munching. But not this time. He wanted to look like a grownup.

He's been adding nearly a word a day to his vocabulary. He says all kinds of things now like stars, moon, water, boots, shoes, socks, all sorts of animal sounds, but his favorites are still bus and truck. You would know that if you ever have the opportunity to drive a few blocks with him. He wants to point every single one of them out, and he'll keep pointing them out until you acknowledge that he did so. Then he'll point them out a few more times just to make sure you got it.

Needless to say, we're very thankful that we have a healthy and happy boy. We're also very thankful that each of our sisters have very healthy children and strong and loving families.

Finally, we're very thankful that we have such terrific friends who are willing to take us in for this family-oriented holiday. We'll be at Ron and Nancy's tomorrow and look forward to everything!

Enjoy your turkeys!

We Love October!

What a full weekend! We got to spend Saturday afternoon at Grandma and Grandpa Luce's and stayed through dinner and a bath.

We had great fun with them and will miss them a lot while they're away for several months. They're going to Denver to help when 3 new babies arrive there (note to Sandy and Jason: we can't wait for you to be parents!!!).

Jacob got into and out of their big toy bin over and over and over again. Sometimes while in there he even had fun playing peek-a-boo with Daddy.

This morning we went to Butler's Orchard for their annual pumpkin festival with Becky. There were hay rides,
a slide that went through a tractor (Jacob immediately ran back around to the stairs to do it again!),

a bus and a train,

piggies and goats (and other farm animals, too),

pumpkins,
and hay everywhere!
Then this afternoon was spent raking and playing some more in the backyard. We're all exhausted but very happy.

Been Too Long

Sorry it's been so long since I've updated this. There have just been so many things to do this summer - mostly involving pulling weeds somewhere. However, we did take a few photos so I will share a few now.

Most recent first - this morning Jacob was playing with his hard hat...

We all had great fun at the Blair-tastic Talk Like A Pirate Day Party last Saturday!
This summer we flew to Fargo to visit my family and allllll his cousins!

We also went to the park - a lot.

And visited Grandma and Grandpa Luce.

Welcome to the World, Baby Rowan!

I want to officially welcome my newest nephew - Rowan Scott Nelson - to the world! He was born just a few hours ago. Mom and baby are doing extremely well.

More to come on him later (I can't wait to see photos!)

In the meantime, here are a few photos from last weekend. Thank you, Nancy, for taking them and getting them to me! We went to a park to get in some swinging time...

I think Jacob had fun, don't you?

So Much To Do!

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted. We've been very busy the past few weeks.

I have to get photos of Steve's hole that he's digging in our "way back" area. It started off as a project to create a garden by digging out all the current weeds. However, Steve has taken it very seriously and it's now a personal vendetta against all weeds and their entire root systems. We may have a garden by next year. One or the other of us goes out digging every night after work (unless it's raining...grrr) and on weekends.

Jacob's been working to get rid of all but 1 of his naps so he's been a bit tired in the evenings after his dinner. But he still loves bathtime and can usually cope well with that added energy-drainer on bath nights.

Things at work have been very busy, too. I have a big project that I'm lucky to be part of that will take the entire summer.

So, on to what you're all here for...photos of Jacob! He's learned to take this half-step backwards and now doesn't even hesitate to turn around when he gets to it. He's so proud of himself!

The other weekend started off cool one morning but was going to get hot. So...I stuck Jacob in his baby leg warmers (thank you, Aunt Betsy!).
We had good friends Ron and Barb over for dinner the other weekend (what fun!) and while Jacob was leary of Ron and his facial hair, he and Barb hit it right off!

Jacob is still the king of drool, but still looks great in this cool T-shirt from Aunt Sandy and Uncle Jason.

On the Big News front, Jacob took his first steps yesterday (I don't really count it when he takes one step and then collapses)! When I picked him up at daycare he took 5 very excited steps toward me and was sooooo proud of himself. Of course I was so proud of him that I burst into Happy Tears. No photos of it yet, but we'll get some!

A Visit from Aunt Sandy

Memorial Day Weekend brought us Aunt Sandy! She hasn't seen Jacob in ages - OK only since Christmas but he's doing so much more now - so she just had to see him again.

Jacob took less than an hour to get used to her and then he couldn't get enough of her hugs, smooches and squeezes. In fact he would even reach for her while being held by Mommy or Daddy.

Aunt Sandy had great fun changing diapers, walking (he loves walking while holding someone's fingers!), going upside down, feeding, assisting with sippy cups and snacks.

We all, including Steve's parents, had great fun playing together, building towers for Jacob to knock down, helping him down the small step between the "play room" and the living room, turning his push toy so he could push it across the room into the opposite wall, hugging him, and participating in the Great Jacob Love Train. That's where we all stood in a circle and he would start off being held by one person and then want to get passed to each person in turn.

It was a terrific weekend - Jacob was even so excited by all the extra attention that he stayed up an hour later each night and woke up an hour early each day. We'll have to wait to see Aunt Sandy in Colorado later this year when we'll also get to catch up with Uncle Jason and meet the Fritz Trips!!!