Roozengaarde

Don't mind me as I zip an infant under my jacket

Haha! Trying to get a picture of JJ with the tulips while he was strapped to my chest. Don't mind his slobbers.

Yesterday, we drove about 45 minutes north to the Roozengaarde, an annual tulip festival that was started by a Dutch couple some time ago. It was a little windy and chilly, but it's supposed to rain the rest of the week, so we took advantage of the sunshine. Jace and I had watery eyes and runny noses the whole time, but I'm glad we went, because it was so beautiful. Tulips are my favorite flower, and they were everywhere.

Colt said these gardens and fields are about a hundredth the size of those in Holland. He also told me the waffles and frites at Bruge's (a small Dutch-owned restaurant in Salt Lake which sells the yummiest dessert waffles I've ever eaten) aren't as tasty as the ones they sell on the streets in the Netherlands. 

So I guess he'll just have to take me there soon. Waffles and tulips all-around! ;) 

University of Washington

Last weekend, we decided to spend the afternoon walking around the University of Washington campus with our friends Rusty and Jennica and their new little baby Henry. The campus is really pretty. We didn't take a ton of pictures, probably because we were too busy visiting with actual grown-ups, and admiring each other's beautiful babies. Jace and Henry seemed very comfortable in each other's company, as they both nursed and promptly fell asleep.

Afterwards, we met up again at our apartment to eat Costco pizza and cookies and watch some March Madness- the mark of a truly successful day. We're so glad we've got such good friends up here. 

Has It Seriously Been Two Years...

...since this perfect day on March 30th, 2013?

We were even color coordinated (not planned).

After many, many months of hoping, praying, and not-so-patiently waiting, it finally happened. 

I love you, CWP. 

Meet The (Great Grand)Parents

Four generations right there!

We've had a couple of busy weekends. Two weeks ago, we drove out to Yakima to visit Colt's sister Alisha and her family. Alisha had to have surgery, so his mom was in town to help out with our niece and nephew. We got to spend some time with Grammy Terri and Jace's cousins, Bailey and Bentley. It was so fun! We picked a good week to travel because Jace was sleeping like a rock star (something he has NOT been doing this week, I totally jinxed us a couple of posts ago). Bailey was so sweet with JJ; she gave him lots of kisses, spoke softly to him, and tried to make him feel better when he cried. She's such a little mama :) I don't have any pictures of that weekend, but I know they are out there so I'll have to scrounge around and post them later.

Then, this is last weekend, we surprised my mom and drove down to West Linn for a quick visit. Papa Todd has been begging us to get down there so he could show off his new gran' baby to his friends and to my Oregon relatives. Jace got to meet his great grandparents for the first time, along with my Aunt Kari, cousins Ashley and Kyle, and their little boy Kruz.  We had a blast, and the weekend flew by, as weekends are wont to do.

We're so lucky to have such wonderful family, and that some from each side are within driving distance. We love you guys! Can't wait to see you again soon.

Selfie Time

You've just got to take advantage of those smiles!

Love you, little boyfrien'.

8 Weeks

Happy 8 weeks little homie! These pictures were actually taken last week, but my phone ran out of storage and my camera stopped working until I put all the pictures onto the computer. Oops! I've become that parent with a million pictures of their kid in the same position with slightly different facial expressions who can't bear to delete even a single one (unless it's blurry).  Get it together, girl.

At 8 weeks, Jace is...

Stretching out! Colt had him in the shower the other day, and I commented that Jace's rolls didn't look quite as roly as they did yesterday. Colt agreed, and added that he thought JJ looked a little longer. His clothes fit differently, too. He's still rockin' some serious chub, but he's getting taller and allocating some of that baby fat to the appropriate locations. But we still get comments on how "healthy" he looks. Haha!

Talking up a storm. Well, not so much talking yet, but definitely giving us some very purposeful coos and baby noises. He loves when we look him in the eye and say hi, and he answers right back! We took a trip to my parents house this weekend, and Colt's sister's last weekend, and he isn't shy. He wanted to talk to everyone, and talk to them a lot! He's such a social butterfly.

Still catnapping during the day, although we sometimes get one REALLY long nap in the late morning or early afternoon.

Being such a sweetheart and sleeping well at night (knock on wood). Friday and Saturday night, he slept from about 8:45 pm-4:00 am, then went back to sleep until 7:00-7:30 am. What the?! I mean, I'm not complaining, but now Colt and I are totally spoiled and anything less than that makes us a little bit sad. Fingers crossed he keeps at it! I'm seriously a little scared to write this down, like documenting it will jinx us somehow.

Not really loving books. I know he's only two months old, but my mom says that's when I started loving to read. I can't help but feel a little bit like a failure-but then I remember he doesn't even know he has hands yet, and I feel better.

We sure love this little peanut. It's so fun to see his little personality starting to peek through. Being a mama is hard work, but I can't imagine our little family without him in it. I guess we're keeping him! ;)

Tricky Tricks

At 7 weeks, Jace's new tricks include:

Spitting up or blowing out his diaper at very inopportune moments-then smiling up at mom or dad afterwards, like he knows exactly what he did and is a little proud of being naughty. He's kind of an imp.
Lifting his head and chest during tummy time, and keeping it there! Like a boss.
Conversing with mom and dad. It's so cute. He looks us right in the eye, smiles at us so big, and then he'll give us a very distinct coo-the one he uses when he wants to talk to you. So we say "Hi! Hi Jace!" and he coos back with the same intonation, so we say "Hi Jace!" again and he coos back exactly the same way, etc. We do this over and over again, and it's just the best; he smiles the whole time and you can tell he loves the interaction. 
Starting to grab and hold on to mommy's hair, shirt, and necklace. And, might I add, he's got a pretty firm grasp.
Smiling and cooing at mom and dad. He purposefully tries to get our attention by establishing eye contact and smiling, because he knows those smiles get a big reaction from whoever is wiping his bum at the time. ;)
Launching himself backwards in my arms if I am trying to burp him and he wants to keep eating.
Getting himself to sleep when I put him in his crib when he is tired but still awake (knock on wood! This is a great new trick). 
Tracking people and objects with his eyes as they move in front of him.
Growing his hair back! The softest little peach fuzz you've ever felt has replaced all of the bald spots, and I love to run my hand over the back of his head. It looks white right now because it's still so short, but it very well may end up being the same strawberry blonde color he was born with. We just have to wait and see. The anticipation is killing me! 
Crossing his feet at the ankles while he's eating.
Officially taking naps in his swing and chilling in his bouncer for prolonged periods of time.
Being cute as a button.

It's crazy how much babies can change in a week or two. Each day, I can tell his awareness is increasing, and he acquires new skills and builds on existing ones so quickly. My baby is growing up!