Soooooo sleepy

Just fixing this little one his dinner and left him here with his 'appetizer' for only a moment ... he knocked out on me.....life is really exhausting when your 9 months old!

Gumm family night out on the town and Clint wanted to take a picture of us....Jace smiles perfect every time....I need at least 3 'practice' shots until we get the right one....I am so vain.

IF YOU EVER WANT TO SEE YOUR WATER BOTTLE AGAIN...

Grandpa! If you ever want to see your water bottle again you must come to Arizona and get it......we are holding it hostage and DEMAND you come back to Arizona! (do you all notice how I still don't have lamp shades yet....I have bought...and returned...3 different kinds of shades, just can't seem to find the right shape/color/size....but problem was solved this weekend.....bought different lamps and they come with shades!)

Sweet potatoes are HARD to get in the mouth!

Jace keeps grabbing the spoon away from me every meal time so I took that as a cue he wants to start feeding himself.....by the look of things it is going to take a little more practice. I am beginning to wonder if his early desire to be independent is foretelling of my future with a fiercely I-can-do-it-myself child.....yikes!

Grandma and Grandpa Little Came to Visit!!!!

Grandma and Grandpa Little came to visit and boy do I miss them SO much! I loved having them here! Jace loved all the attention too! They of course spoiled him rotten...but that's not much different than his life around here every day. We all did SO much together, but it was really the moments just being lazy around the house that I cherished the most. Seeing my parents snuggle up this little boy left permant memories on my heart. I still can't believe how much Jace looks like my dad! The way they both relax on the couch and scratch the top of their heads cracks me up! Funny how small mannerisms can be a family trait!

Ahhh...a moment of sleep...

There are moments in my day when I look at this face and can't believe how blessed Clint and I are to have been given such an awesome responsibility of raising this little boy. He runs me to the point of exhaustion most days...and nap times I cherish. I often hold him close after he falls asleep and turn off the tv just so I can hear him breath. It is in these small moments in my day when I say a little prayer of thanks to my Heavenly Father to be given such a perfect little boy. I am thankful for the little smiles he gives me when I walk in the room. I am thankful for the way he totally ignores me when he hears Clints voice or sees him walk by. I am thankful for the lessons he has taught me in patience. I am so thankful for getting to see in his face what pure joy looks like. I am thankful for the loud, belly laugh playful moments and thankful for the quiet moments right before sleep when he stares at my face. I am thankful for the way he has opened my heart to a world of motherhood. I am thankful for my son!

Trip to Mexico

We took a MUCH needed family vacation to Mexico. After the stress of moving into our new house we were ready for some beach time. It was so great for Clint to be able to get away from work and just relax. Jace loved swimming every day and the ocean was his FAVORITE! He jumped over waves with Clint and every time water sprayed in his face he licked it all up.....gross! He was belly laughing the whole time. The sand under his feet was mesermizing! He couldn't figure out why I wouldn't let him eat the sand....what a mean mom! He was so good, we ran him until he crashed in our arms.....at dinner, on our night walks on the beach, even if we were still swimming!

HOW DID I GET SO LUCKY?!

I LOVE SWIMMING!