All Blacks here I come!

This is Jacob's rugby outfit. Perhaps he's getting back to his New Zealand roots? Plus, his BYU "football" has more of a rugby-ball (how you say that?) quality to it than a traditional pigskin.



But perhaps with the hairstyle he's sporting in these pictures he's going for more of a Jane Austen time period nobleman...Mr. Darcy anyone?

Jacob + Hats = Good

Jacob has been trying a couple of his hats on for size. The weather has been lovely and we've been walking. The baby books all say that taking your baby for a stroll is a "feast of sights and sounds" for your baby, and a good way for the momma gets some exercise. Well, Jacob just dolefully slumps in his stroller and abides. I guess abiding is better than screaming.

Enjoy his first responses to his lil' hats. (Thank you Aunt Lucy and Grandma Gamette for these cute hats!)

Bad Beef (or how Jacob found his gag reflex, or Jacob gagging)

There is a fairly famous (in our family) piece of footage of my dad when he was a young boy. He was probably between 2 and 4 years old. The old home movie was shot by my grandpa. Grandpa had organized and labelled the movies years ago and we found this particular one when I was a senior in high school after he had passed away. The movie was taken on Easter and the whole family was having a picnic and easter egg hunt in the mountains. A very memorable trip that could have been labelled as Easter, family outing, springtime, picnic, etc. The title is simply, "Leland Gagging". Grandpa panned across the family eating hard boiled eggs while sitting on a blanket and just as my dad goes out of the frame grandpa darts back to dad only to catch dad have a pretty violent dry heave-ish gag followed by a heavy shudder. So daddy, I want you to know that even though this boy may not look like you, he sure has a mean beginner's gag.

Now on to how Jacob found his gag reflex. I should have known it wouldn’t taste good to him if it made me sick just to open the jar. Two words: cat food. We had (unfortunately) not tried meats until today. It was an exciting foray into the world of a reluctant eater. Until now Jacob has slurped down cereals, vegetables and fruits with unchanged enthusiasm. The pears smelled so good I almost got two spoons out when he ate those. Needless to say, I have been terribly proud of his like of green beans and peas. However, as my friend Kelli says, “I had better make my words nice and sweet because I’ll be eating them later”. Touché Kelli, touché.

So, please feast your eyes on a series of gags that all took place in response to ONE bite of beef...although my camera was not fast enough to catch each and every gag. I know they are not necessarily real gags, but they were positively overwhelming him and very funny. Plus, if this makes any sense, his eyes were definitely gagging. After I had preserved the moment in film, (if only you could see the video) and made him eat more for the camera, he ate some green beans (to make his mommy feel good).



These two pictures look just the same, but they were taken during two separate gags.















So happy after the beans...



So wistful after the beef.

I have a feeling we will be purchasing all of the meat and apples line. Shudder.

Turning Corners

As I packed up all of Jacob's zero to three month clothes (mainly a bunch of onesies...I love summer babies!) a lump started growing in my throat. He is growing up so fast. And while I am a little emotional at the reality of this growth, he couldn't be happier. Here are some of his sweet new ways.



He gets engaged with toys and really concentrates on them. Especially the tags.



He can read.



He reaches for anything in sight. And he is an amateur monkey trainer, although here he's not taming it too well.



He eats his feet (check out the latch he's got on that big toe!)



He sits up (without the boppy now) and he has "morning face" when he wakes up. (This was the Eve of Christmas Eve, when Santa came to our house)



He has a new friend. He also met someone else this week who is also his friend. Although he is a little unaware that they're friends just yet. Unless Gideon has a bottle, and then they are no longer apathetic friends but the fiercest of competitors.



He can dance around on his hands and knees.



He can make cute faces like this.



He can make mean faces like this.



He can laugh when Grandpa Gamette & Uncle Jonny make silly faces at him.



And he can look terribly cute in a gray little bunting.

Merry Christmas!

There's nothing like moving at Christmas

Perhaps dental work, taxes and triathalons are...but not much else comes close! Last Saturday was the big moving day. We had lots of help (thank you Grandma Hutchison, Rachel, Channy, Joe, Rick, Karen, Ashley, Katie, Casey, Jeffrey, Aaron & Matthew) and we got the majority moved into the house in one day. Despite the fact that I got swatted on the behind repeatedly by Jeffrey. Oh yes, did I mention he's 6?

Anyway, this year was truly a blessing. Last year (another Christmas move) we had the help of four missionaries and that was it. And I was pregnant. It was not a pretty sight. Although one Eder threw the dryer up on his back and moved it completely unassisted. What a hoss.

But this year Matt & I donned our financial service institution t-shirts (Morgan Keegan and the dreaded Arthur Anderson) and got to work.



Jacob was so, so, so good. And he wore his pajamas all day.



He is also getting ready for the family Christmas party and his role as co-baby Jesus with Gideon.

After a week in the new place we have settled in quite a bit. Just please don't go in the third bedroom. We have learned about the perils of homeownership and also the joys (the garage).

The best part of all is that the little man seems quite happy here. So happy that last night he slept for 12 hours! Home sweet home.



And yes dad, that is a tree in the background. Merry Christmas!

How does it feeeeel?

To be without a home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone.

We will soon forget how it feels, because after two years of apartment-hood we have bought a home! It's a contemporary ranch (slanty house) and a real peach. Here are some features of our new pad.



A mantle (which is just beyond the upper limits of this picture) from which to hang our stockings with care...



A wet bar for hours of shmoozing and golf joke telling...



Two windows, in addition to the fireplace...the man on the left is Connor, our realtor. He unfortunately doesn't come with the home so we wil probably forget to change our filters and have leaky faucets.



How does it feeeel?
To own a slanty home
To have a great big loan
Unlike a rolling stone.

Good Morning Sunshine

We'll be wrapped around your finger

Jacob enjoyed his first Thanksgiving this past weekend and what a fun time we had. He was able to see lots and lots of family and try out the new highchair Grandma Hutchison got him. He was also able to hone some of his gifts of persuasion.

For example, Jacob was an angel in the car as we drove a grand total of 11 hours! (Bless you Mr. Pacifier)





Sooooo, he was entitled to waking mommy and daddy up a lot during the night. Look at that masterful grasp he has on us. He are totally his pawns.



He did sleep a bit, but for most of the weekend he was hopped up on lots of attention, little sleep and green beans. But here's an example of the little Mister when he was asleep. Ahhh.



But two of the best things about this weekend were that:

a. He was adorable the whole time (adding to his skills of persuasion)



and b. mommy and daddy were able to re-live the salad days and go on a date to Harry Potter. We almost could remember what life was like when he was just a big twinkle in our eyes and in mommy's tummy.

"Mommy! Oh, Maaaaah-mee!"

"I could use some help here!"

The other day I heard Jacob cooing after his nap. He usually enjoys a little post-nap time just ootching (as we affectionately call it) and babbling around in his crib. After a few minutes I went in to find...this! Gasp.



and this!



and this!



We think this whole arm escaping act was just a ploy so he could end up in mommy & daddy's bed. Well Jacob, you have to wake up pre-tty early in the morning to pull a fast one on us.

Oh wait, you do wake up early in the morning!