Jacob is 1!

    And before we knew it our little Jacob started to not seem so little any more... The day he turned 11 months (which was also Mother's Day), he started to walk! It was so weird at first, seeing our own little person, walking. One month later, he's practically running everywhere!

    Despite Jacob's inability to communicate verbally yet (at least with words we understand), we are surprised at how many words, and phrases he already does know! If we say, "Where's your milk?" He'll go find his silly cup; the same goes for his pacifier or one of his favorite books. When I say that we're going outside, and start putting on my shoes, he will walk over towards the door to get his shoes! He points to things he wants, or in the direction he wants us to go if we're holding him.

    I really had no idea what it would be like having a 1 year old. There are tough times, like when he's teething, or won't sit down in the bathtub, but overall, I would say it gets more fun by the day :)

   By the way, Jacob has the coolest birthday: 6-8-10!

    Here are some photos from on and around his birthday!

 We live near a small animal zoo/farm!

This was Jacob's first time going. He was super excited

because he could get so much closer to the animals than at the zoo :)

Jacob likes to "push" the stroller. He likes to do the same thing with shopping carts, too.

Except, it doesn't quite work the same way because he likes to hold the bar, so I end up holding

him up around his waist & he smiles at everyone, thinking he's pushing the cart :)

We brought our tripod to the park the day of the animal farm. Because of the sun, this was the best family picture :)

(I didn't delete the rest....)

Jacob talking to the goat! Probably telling him to come closer!

Jacob's 1st birthday party!

After experiencing one, I really think they're overrated. Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled our son has lived a full happy, healthy year thus far. However, the 1st birthday party was a little stressful. Maybe it was all the people & noise? Or the fact that Jacob didn't even want to touch his cake? 

...we may be out of town around that time next year.. :)

Jacob & his friend Elijah figuring out how his new golf set works!

Gift from: Grandpa Lord

(I made that dress the day before:) )

My most recent sewing project! But it only took 2 1/2 hours, so I don't know if it qualifies as a "project". Maybe an impulse project; that's really what it was!

I already had the rainbow fabric (previously purchased for $2.75/yd) & I bought the light purple earlier that night for $2.50/yd. I only used 1/2yd of the purple, so that's my new favorite $4 dress! I love when I find a deal like this :)

He figured out one use for the golf set :)

Playing with his friend Abby

Grandpa & Grandma Cichon gave Jacob a HUGE bass! Here Jacob is kissing it :) He'll often drag it around & use it as a pillow :)

Trying out the new cup Grandpa & Grandma Cichon brought Jacob from Florida!

Realizing nothing is in it yet!

Aunt Lisa & Jacob :)

The cake I made for Jacob's party! Oddly enough, it's on an appetizer plate that was used at my baby shower for him :)

Recap of February

Sometimes I have more words than photos to share. This will not be one of those times. I'd like to share a chunk of my favorite photographs from the month of February.

February was our second month living in our new (to us) house we are renting. It's started to feel more cozy, now that all boxes are out of sight...and unpacked :) I am happy Jacob has his own room now! When we lived in Carbondale, we called his room the "Nursif". Half nursery, half office. Even though he has his own room now, for some reason, most of his toys are stored in the corner of the living room.

I can't believe how much Jacob has changed since we moved in. We're having to baby proof EVERYTHING now. There's not a cabinet, drawer, or end table, that he can't get into. His new favorite thing is to pull himself up to standing and take things one by one off the end tables in the living room and drop them on the floor. Sometimes I'll wait in the hall until he's reaching for something and then come out and say, "Jacob!" He startles and laughs :)

When it was in the 70's a couple weeks ago, I took Jacob for a walk in the stroller. It was the first time he was outside for a while, since the fall. And he's changed so much since then...noticing everything, so much more alert... The way he was looking at cars going by, trees, houses, people walking, it was like he was seeing it for the first time. He was so excited, his little legs were wiggling the whole time :)

One of his new favorite things to do is pull himself up to standing & hang on to a dining 

room chair and walk while pushing it across the floor!

Sometimes I'll put his toys in it for him to find
...this time we put him in it :)

This is a cabinet in our kitchen Jacob is
allowed to play with.

Jacob is doing really well at pulling himself

up & standing, on everything!

(Including his dirty clothes hamper!)

Jacob has recently tried pancakes for the first time. 

He loves them!

Especially when I make them with applesauce :-)

He's starting to prefer self-feeding over baby food!

I can't get enough of that face!

                                               Somehow he found a role of tape & it became his new favorite toy for a day :-)

3 teeth on the bottom! He just got one on the top, too!

James' 25th birthday was February 27th. I threw him a surprise birthday party the evening before. He got home from work and walked into the dining room... Someone flipped the lights on and everyone shouted, "Surprise!" 

I made James a vanilla & carmel layered cake!

My sister Julie decorated the back of the envelope of a card from from my parents.

She drew "25 Cats for your 25th Birthday!"

Neither of them are cat lovers or anything... Julie was just being, Julie :-)

This is an envelope worth keeping :)

My sister's Sharon & Lisa, and good friend Holly

Me & Beverly (James' mom)

James was zooming Jacob around on his new toy when they went around the corner and Kita (the family dog) ran towards them to see what was going on & startled Jacob. I don't think we've ever seen him pout like that before!

This is usually how their relationship goes :)

Grandpa Cichon (my dad) helping Jacob walk.

Grandpa & Jacob, waving :-)

Sharon at the table with the birthday lunch my Dad made for James.

Everything he cooks/grills is DELICIOUS!!

Aunt Lisa & Jacob :-)

Jacob's first day out in a while! A few seconds after I took this picture...

he scooted over to the mud next to him and touched it with one finger,

decided he liked how it felt, and started grabbing and 

squeezing it through his fingers!

I would have taken a photo, but I was afraid he was going to eat it next!

Playing with our front door for the first time :)

Watching cars go by...

Recently we had a nasty storm, complete with tornado warnings. 

So our lantern that we got as a wedding gift came in handy!

(hopefully we can go camping sometime & really use it!)

Daddy & Jacob hanging out :-)