Jace's 1st Birthday

We celebrated Jace's 1st birthday on Saturday April 1st. It was a beautiful day outside and we spent the entire party on the back porch. Thank goodness too because Jace made a huge mess of his cake! We had the party from 12-2 and invited our family and a few friends. We got Chipotle catered which I would HIGHLY recommend. They provided every thing you could need including matches to light the warmers. There was tons of food and the only thing I would do different is order a little bit less we had so many leftovers. 

Also I spent way too much time stressing about decorations and later realized that everyone was outside the whole time and I could have done without a single decoration! Next time I won't stress so much and just enjoy the process. After everyone ate lunch we opened presents, let Jace chow down on his cake, and then relaxed a little bit until it was time for all of the babies to go down for a nap. It was a sweet day and just so hard to believe that we are at the 1 year mark. What an amazing year it has been with out sweet boy!

Jace is about 22lbs and cute as ever. He is cruising all around but not yet walking. The only word he really seems to know for sure is "da-da"! He has the best laugh in the world and laughs all the time. He loves to play, especially with his new slide and ball pit that his grandparents got him for his birthday. He also really loves books and is always pulling them out of the book basket and bringing them to us. We went to the beach without him a few days after his birthday and he officially weaned. I wasn't totally sure I was going to wean him but he took the bottle of whole milk so well while we were gone I figured we would just continue that. He still loves food and puts everything in his mouth. 

He is a little clingy which I don't mind because I love holding him. The main people he will consistently go to are me, Austin, my mom, and Austin's mom. We just started putting him in the nursery at church (I know I know.... only took me a whole year) and he does pretty well in that! I've said it at every month but I really think this age is the BEST. His little personality is shining so bright and he is pure JOY. We love you so much buddy! Happy 1st birthday!

Easter 2017

This Easter is definitely going down as the best Easter ever! Last year at this time we were still waiting on Jace to make his arrival and I have to say that having him here is way better than waiting on him to come. This was my weekend to work so I worked Saturday but one of my awesome co-workers swapped with me so I could have Easter Sunday off to spend with my boys. 

What is it about having kids that makes the love of God SO much more real? My heart was grieved on Good Friday thinking of what the Father went through letting His son die. All because He loved us, a sinful people who don't even deserve His love. Then the beauty of it is the resurrection. That Jesus conquered that sin and death and rose again victorious. How often as Christians do we get stuck on the cross and our own sin and filth without realizing that Jesus defeated that and ROSE AGAIN! What joy is found in that truth! 

Speaking of joy... this boy of ours... he is pure joy. He lights up our world and each stage gets more and more fun. He is absolutely smitten for his daddy and seeing their bond get deeper is so incredible. I can't express how your love for your husband changes when you have kids. I love Austin in such a different way than I did before. My appreciation for him has grown so deep and sharing mutual love for our little person just makes me feel that much more connected to him. And the fact that he has been dying to match Jace... I mean ALL the heart eyes for that. I felt giddy all day at church every time I would see those two cuties across the room talking to people. Jace's first word is officially "da-da" and it is just a glimpse of the bond these two already have. I pray they always have a strong bond and friendship like Austin does with his dad. My heart is full y'all! 

We had a slow morning full of muffins, scrambled eggs, and coffee then went to the later service. I love Easter service! There is always such a buzz of excitement and I imagine that celebratory feeling is what the disciples must have felt when they started to realize Jesus was risen! After church we went to 5 guys for lunch and then headed home and all took a 2 hour nap (hallelujah!)! After that we went back out for some dinner with Austin's family and maybe I am just full of sappy hormones but I sat around looking at our family just blown away by them. I pray that I would never lose that sense of thankfulness for our family. They are such amazing people and some of my favorite people in the world. 

Here are a few pictures of our Easter Sunday and I have gone back and looked at the pictures of Austin and Jace together so many times. Those two... I love them so much! Also a few pictures of Jace and his best friend, Brantley. Their little ties are just the best. I'm thinking this may need to become more of a regular thing!

Happy Easter friends! May the power of the Cross and Resurrection be real and evident in your lives today! May you know the LOVE of Jesus Christ like never before! 

XOXO,

Gemma 

Life Lately and Jace 11 Month Update

11 months! What? I'm still in shock! But yet it's also crazy to think that we haven't even had Jace for a year... feels like he has always been a part of us! I'm not sure what we did for entertainment before him. He is TONS of fun right now and that doesn't even do it justice to how much I am loving this stage. He is so funny, laughs all the time, is finding his voice and cruising all around. Still not walking on his own but loves to push other things around while he walks. He has been in a clingy phase and wants to be held a lot which is surprising to me because he is normally so independent. I am soaking up every singly time he pulls on my legs and lifts his arms up in the air to be held. Looking down at that little face looking up at me is just everything. 

He eats everything and anything he can get his hands on. Normally prefers table food but lately has been wanting pouches more than anything and I think it has something to do with teething. He is down to only nursing 2-3 times a day and as much as I miss the constant snuggle-sesh that nursing brings, I am loving the freedom. I haven't decided what we will do about weaning yet so for now we will just go with it. He takes to a bottle just fine and we've even given him whole milk a few times mixed in with some breast milk because my freezer supply is sorely lacking. Could be because I loathe pumping-- all you momma's who exclusively pump I salute you! 

He goes down around 8 at night and wakes up around 9 the next morning (hallelujah)! He takes 2 naps a day ranging from 1-2 hours each and I really think 2 naps a day is the sweet spot! 3 naps a day was so hard to maintain and I felt like I was constantly housebound. 2 naps is WAY better because he takes a great morning nap, we go out for a few hours, then back home just in time for another nap and I usually take one too. There is part of me that's excited for that 1 long nap a day so he's more on schedule with my other friend's kids. Playdates are a serious necessity in a week! Not sure how I would survive without my mom friends! 

Jace loves our dog Bailey and literally lights up when he sees her in the morning. He loves to say da-da and has figured out how to pull off all the outlet plugs. When we try to discipline him and sternly say "no no Jace" he just throws his head back and laugh so hard. Parents how do you keep a straight face when they do such hilarious things?? He has lots of little friends and really actually loves playing with other kids. As crazy as I know the transition to 2 kids will be eventually (not pregnant), I can't wait to see him with a built in best bud in a little brother or sister. We love the playground and when it's not so cold outside we usually go almost every day to swing on the swings. He also loves bath time and dunks his head all the way under water to blow bubbles. I'm thinking we need to get this kid some swimming lessons because he has no fear. 

Approaching that big 1 year mark has my heart so full. Motherhood is an incredible gift of which I hope I never take for granted. In a world where children are looked at as a disturbance or inconvenience I pray we always see our little bud as such a joy. Yes there are hard days and frustrating moments, but I try to always keep in mind how desperately I always wanted and prayed for this and how greatly God answered. Spring is fast approaching and I think it's my new favorite time of year because it will always remind me of those first few precious weeks of being a new mom. There is something so magical about the relationship with the firstborn because everything is a first for the mom too. I feel like just as he has grown, so have I. We have figured it out together and it has been such an amazing journey. It has made Austin and I's relationship so much stronger and more dynamic too. It requires that we extend MORE grace and understanding for each other. But yet we also share this intense love for this tiny person. 

What a gift you are, our little boy Jace. 

Surprise! Aunt Stacy was in town! Jace loves Camryn!

 Finally gotten in a good workout routine and this little man uses me as a jungle gym while I workout! 

I went to the bathroom this day and left him in his highchair and when I came back I found him like this... we have a climber on our hands! 

Always hanging with our buddy Oliver!

Cuties!

Jace loves hanging with Bear and Brooks!

All smiles for a big boy carseat!

So full of JOY!

We love Brantley! 4 months apart! Best friends for life!

Around 9 months we transitioned him to only using his pacifier at nap time and night. Sometimes you just got to sneak it in a little early!

Nana! Definitely one of Jace's all time favorite people! Mine too!

Cutest visitor at work! I still struggle with being away from this guy for 12 hour days but thankful I don't work that much and Austin always brings him up on the weekends!

Another friend was born! Love my sweet friend Marlee and her perfect buddy Liam! Can't wait when him and Jace can run around and play together! 

I think my days of leisurely shopping may be numbered for the next few years because this guy does not want to sit still! Wouldn't trade it for the world! And PTL for online shopping!