Working Out

JP spent some time in the weightroom this week because Mommy has started a new workout regimen (p90x). He didn't want to sit around, so he tried his hand at some kettle bell swings...
Looks like the workout was harder for Daddy than JP...
I think he likes it...

JP's Girlfriends

JP & I take a class every Monday at Isis Maternity for 3-5 month olds. It's been a lot of fun, and JP has enjoyed singing songs and playing with new toys. Today, he listened to the teacher reading a book with three pretty little girls :)

(he's on the far right in the first picture and the far left in the second picture)

Isn't that the cutest?!?!

A Definite Fan

A couple days ago, we were (again) battling the 7 p.m. witching hour. This time, instead of the Red Sox, Jason tuned in to the Patriots. Check out JP's reaction:

First Real Laugh

JP had his first real laugh today...an actual giggle. I tried to catch some of it on video, but the audio on my camera isn't great - no worries, I get my new Flip MinoHD in the mail soon!

Love My Daddy

Football has begun. Anyone who knows us or college football knows that August is one of the busiest times of year for coaches. Jason leaves the house by about 5 a.m. and doesn't get home until after 10 p.m. some nights. It's been hard on me because I don't get a break, and it's been hard on Jason because he doesn't get to spend the day with his boy. But when they do spend time together, it's quality time!

since they first met...

they have enjoyed the backyard...

taking naps...

reading books...

swinging in the hammock...

booing the Red Sox...

and just having fun!

I LOVE YOU DADDY,
XOXO
JP

SAHM

That's the acronym for "Stay At Home Mom," or as my dyslexic husband said, "SHAM??? WHAT IS A SHAM?!"

After JP was born, we decided that I would stay home. We always valued our own SAHMs and thought it would be important for our future children to have a full-time parent always available, too. We feel it's the best for little JP. However, I had such a fabulous job, with fabulous people, and it was painful to actually quit. I considered working part-time, but in reality, I think that would be harder than full-time. I wouldn't be 100% at home nor 100% at work. So, with tears, I resigned.

I'll miss seeing them every day, I'll miss Kathy's accent, I'll miss the Castle lunches, I'll miss "boo-ing" people in staff meetings, I'll miss the Red Sox/Patriots debriefs the mornings after games while I pretended to know who they were talking about (Go Steelers!), I'll miss the development part (hey! I actually did some work, I swear), and I'll miss the laughing...we laughed a lot! It really was a fun place to be for two years. Who knows! If we're in Boston for a few more years, I might be able to go back. But, until then, I intend to stay very close with all of them. That's right, guys! I'll be crashing into the Lawson House often!!!

Here are a couple photos from the party they had for me on Monday (click to make bigger):





But, as much as I love and will miss these guys, this little guy more than makes up for it:

And now, I won't be missing anything!

Baby Jason's Quarters

Jason spent many days working on JP's room. Before, it was pretty gross with ugly, flaking trim, ugly, flaking doors, a pink ceiling, cheap, broken roller blinds....and this horrendous "mural" on the wall the previous owners drew. (you can click the photo for an enlarged view).

I didn't get great before pictures, but here's the corner with the mural...
During the remodel...


Finished...
Jason doesn't consider himself "handy," but he did a fabulous job on this room, wouldn't you say?!

And a bonus JP picture :)

A New Cousin

We are happy to welcome our new cousin Hunter Michael into the world today! He is 7 pounds, 1 ounce and 20 inches long. Congratulations Ashlee and Mike!!! We can't wait to meet him!

Looking at JP now, it's hard to believe how much he's grown in his three months. The cliche "it goes so fast" rings true. Just to give you an idea, look at the pictures below...and a big "thank you" to Blitz for being my comparison model :)

ONE MONTH

TWO MONTHS

THREE MONTHS

Let's try a video

So, I'm sure most of you have already seen this video, but I thought it was worth posting (at least to see how videos work on blogs). This is JP at 10 days old. I caught him mid-roll.



It's amazing how much he's changed in 3 months. He looks so tiny here!!!

Before Baby Jason....

We had our first three "children." All three have adjusted well and love their little brother very much :)

Our little survivor, Jackson

Our princess, Sydney

Crazy boy, Blitz

Red Sox & Steelers

"Witching Hour" at our house begins at 7 p.m. JP chooses this time to be a fuss pot for no apparent reason. Well, tonight, the witching hour was avoided thanks to the Red Sox/Yankees game. (Yankees won). Regardless, he was enthralled by the game on tv! He even cried during commercials! Do we have a future baseball player on our hands?!

On another professional sports note, JP got a package from his cousins in Ohio today that included some Steelers socks! (and Ohio State, too, for his cousin Alicia who goes there). He loves his new socks and the opportunity to show his true home colors...he even wore them while he watched the Yankees sweep the Red Sox tonight.

Here are his cousins:

Alicia

Darren and Brooke (in pink) & (JP's other cousins, Madison and Brittney)

Here are his new socks:

Thank you guys!!!!! :)

Disney World

...well, not really. But, JP did make his first trip to Orlando! We spent four days visiting my brother's family. JP loved meeting his Uncle Jay (also a JP), Aunt Elske and his cousins, Mieke and Rose. The girls LOVED JP...wanted to hold him, watch his diaper being changed, watch him eat...they were taking it all in. Mieke said several times during our visit "I think Baby Jason wants me to be his sister." "I think Baby Jason loves me." "I think Baby Jason wants to stay here." "Baby Jason is cuter than other babies, right?"


I even caught them trying out his binkie!


He sure loved the extra snuggles and attention!


Little Man was great on the plane both ways. He's a seasoned traveler, this being his second flight and 5th state to visit. (okay, this counts flying into PA and driving through OH, but hey! he was there!) He also experienced his first swim in a pool! He loved it!


All in all, it was a great time and so good to see our family. Football season begins this weekend, which means no more family trips again until 2010... (hopefully a bowl game!)

First Post

I have been reading friends' online blogs for a long time now and was always intrigued and interested in doing one of my own, but just didn't know what I would write about. Well, since May 4, 2009, I've been blessed with a fabulous blog subject - JP!!!!

My plan is to summarize the pregnancy (nightmare), birth (pretty easy) and the first three months of JP's life (awesome). All while blogging about the little man's development and our life as a family of three. (And don't forget the three dogs, too!)