Jay's First Christmas video 6

Jay's First Christmas video 5

Jay's First Christmas video 4

Jay's First Christmas video 3

Jay's First Christmas video 2

Jay's First Christmas video 1

Milestones!

Jay just rolled over for the first time today! He rolled from his back to his tummy and back again!

This week, he also started grabbing his feet and trying to chew on them. He laughs when we hold him up over our heads, and last night, he laughed for the first time when I blew a raspberry on his belly (I'd been doing it every night to see if it would make him laugh).

Last night, he kept trying to pick up the trucks in the pattern on his Boppy pillow, so his 2D/3D perception might not be great yet, but his hand/eye coordination is growing!

Our Family!

Cousins!

Jay got to meet his cousins Hannamae, Gracie, and Savanah!

Meeting Tu Tu

Tu Tu is Matt's ninety-one year young grandmother. Jay loved meeting his Tu Tu!

Jay's first days!

One week old on September 11, 2011 (with his special "I Love You, Dear Dragon" dragon that Grandma Linda made him)

Grandma and Grandpa Tilley came and stayed with us for a whole week! They did all our grocery shopping, Grandpa ran a lot of errands, and Grandma cooked all of our meals, cleaned our house from top to bottom, and took care of Jay during the night so that I could catch up on my sleep. They say you really become a daughter when you become a mother, and I think it is so true! Jay had so much fun getting to know his North Carolina grandparents!

Aunt Becky (Matt's younger sister) also got to meet Jay!

Jay had his first bath (and didn't care for it too much!)

Napping on comfy shoulders

Jay got a new swing (borrowed from his friend Selah and her mommy Melissa!) and LOVES it!

Jay's birth story - Part 1

Jay was due on August 29, 2011. For at least two weeks, I had been having pre-labor contractions (I refuse to call them "false labor"! They hurt!), but they only happened if I was sitting down. The moment I would stand up, walk around, or lie down, they would stop. It was so frustrating, especially for Matt, who hated that I was in pain all day while he wasn't there to help me. Jay's due date came and went, and that week we tried EVERYTHING to try to get him to come! Walking, spicy food, you name it.

The Thursday after his due date, September 1st, I went in for an appointment and was finally one centimeter dilated. After weeks of no progress, we were very excited! We also planned to induce on September 8th if Jay hadn't come by then. I had no contractions that night, and few the next day. Since we were approaching the Labor Day weekend, I made sure to have my classroom ready for my long-term sub, Mrs. Milianta, just in case anything happened over the weekend. That last day of school was "College Colors" Day, so on my last day of teaching, I wore one of Matt's old Covenant College t-shirts to school -- represent!

to be continued...