My Granny

I wanted to do a post about my Granny. Since the first of the year, things have changed a lot with my Granny. For almost 13 years, my Granny lived by herself in Oak Cliff (the house my mom lived in when she was 11 yrs. old). She has never really had any serious health issues and had never been in the hospital for anything serious. I'm not saying she doesn't or hasn't had anything wrong, but nothing really major. Starting in January, she started "living" with my aunt in Arlington. I don't exactly remember why, but she needed help monitoring something and couldn't do it on her own. Then in February, she was rushed to the hospital. After a lot of tests, she needed to have her gallbladder taken out. Since that surgery, she has lived in a rehabilitation center/nursing home. My Granny has changed a lot since then and so have our lives. She has always suffered from Alzheimer's but not horribly. Since the surgery, it has gotten a lot worse and so has her health. It's amazing how quickly an elderly person can go down hill after having a simple surgery that most of us would bounce right back from.

Her strength and her memory are not what they used to be. It is so hard to see my Granny like this. I've been able to visit her any time we are in Arlington. Last week, my mom, Jack, Allie and I went to see her. Allie and Jack have been twice and the previous week that I was there Granny asked me to bring them. She loved seeing their sweet faces and I think it brightened her day. She even remembered later in the day that we had been there. She doesn't always know who people are at first or even remember people have been there to see her. When Jarod and I went 2 weeks ago, it took her a while to remember who he was. Sometimes she thinks her parents or my Pop is still alive. This disease is just so heartbreaking. I'm really glad that we are able to go and visit her. She has lots of grand kids and great grand kids that are very good about going to see her. I was able to get a few pictures at our visit this time.

This was the 3rd time for Granny to meet Jack. Jack is her youngest great grandchild.

My mom and my aunt both try to go up and see her every day. I'm not sure how they do it, because there are a lot of hard days. They take such good care of her.

Ranger Game

A week ago, we went to see the Rangers play. Jarod's work bought group tickets and we decided it would be fun if the 3 of us went. My mom was kind enough to watch Jack for us so we could enjoy the game. I think we had pretty good seats. We sat right by the foul pole in right field in the 2nd level. The weather was great! There had been a lot of thunderstorms right before the game, but it cleared out just in time for us to enjoy the game. We ate lots of junk food and cheered the Rangers on as they won!

Allie was all decked out in pink and necklaces!

Look who came all the way from the North Pole to see the Rangers! Allie was so excited to see Santa at the game!

VBS

Allie was able to attend VBS for the first time this year and she had a blast!!! It truly is amazing to see all of the hard work that the woman at our church did with VBS. The decorations were amazing and all of their hard work was evident. I was able to work in the nursery and that way I could be there with Jack. Jack did pretty well in the nursery and enjoyed watching the other babies walk and crawl while he relaxed in the swing or sat in my lap. He refused to nap in the beds! I didn't get a picture of Jack but I was able to get a few of Allie. I enjoyed being in the nursery with Jack, but I missed out on seeing Allie. Next year, I look forward to teaching! I was able to see Allie on the last day singing songs and it just filled my heart with joy to see her praising God. She really is getting so big! Every day we discussed what she had learned and listened to her VBS songs. She loved singing them in the car to Jack!

On Friday, we went to a carnival to eat dinner, play games, eat snow cones, bounce in bounce houses, see the kids sing and see a slide show. We all had a great time...even Jack!

Allie's sweet friends: Layton and Cale

This picture of Jack cracks me up because I think he looks like Popeye (if you've seen my pic posted on FB, then you know what I'm talking about)

Jack no longer minds his car seat! I think we "broke him" in on our trip. He never screams any more!!!

My sweet girl in front of some of the decor

I love this picture of Cale and Allie. They really do love each other!

4th of July in Memphis

Last Thursday we headed out of town to Memphis to see our best friends Keith and Courtney. This was Jack's first out of town trip. It was a memorable one at that! Jarod and I never thought we would get there on Thursday. Jack was not loving being in his car seat and screamed off and on for the first part of the trip. The trip was also stretched out longer b/c of him needing to eat. After we made it to Arkadelphia, we decided to put me in the back between him and Allie. This wasn't that easy in our Malibu, but we made it work. The front seat folds down, so I was able to stretch my legs out. It did help and make the trip more bearable, but we still didn't arrive until midnight (took 11 1/2 hrs. and usually takes about 8). Allie was a great car traveler as always! She never napped but she kept herself entertained by watching movies, coloring, playing with toys and playing on her ipod touch (or as she calls it, her touch iPhone).

We had a wonderful time with our friends. It was so nice to spend some time with them. We ate a lot of yummy food, Courtney and I saw Eclipse, I discovered the best accessory store ever (Charming Charlies and learned there is one by my house), Allie played in the sprinkler, shot off fireworks (they live out of city limits) and just enjoyed hanging out. I love it when we are together and I miss them so much!

Our trip home went a lot smoother. I still sat in the back and Jack was a much happier little boy. He enjoyed snuggling with Allie's lovie and pink blanket. It only took us 9hrs to get home. Not bad! Thanks Courtney and Keith for having us!

This is Jack on the way there. He had just finished crying. Poor guy!
My awesome traveler!

Soaking up some sun

Courtney with Jack. Courtney is due in November and we find out tomorrow what she is having!

Courtney and I have been friends since our sophomore year at Harding. Jarod and I are lucky that our best friends married each other!

I just want to kiss Jack's chubby cheeks in this picture!

Sparkler time (Allie called them sprinkles)

My sweet kiddoes

The flower headband that Allie is wearing is from Charming Charlies. She also loved that store. That headband has become her new favorite.

Snuggling with Allie's lovie on the way home

His new favorite toy!

3 Months and First Cold

Jack turned 3 months old on the 24th of June. It is hard to believe my little guy is already 3 months! Time really does fly! Jack's personality it really starting to come out. He really is a different baby than Allie was. Allie was a laid back, go with the flow kind of girl. She chilled on her own and was very independent. Jack, not so much. He is a people person and loves being with people. He likes to be talked to and will smile or talk right back to you! He's not a big fan of someone not being in the room with him. He wants to be able to see you! He loves Allie and Allie is quite good at entertaining him!

Jack also got his first cold last Friday thanks to me! He was pretty stuffy and coughed because of his snot, but other than that you wouldn't have known he was sick. He had a few restless nights but still slept through the night. Now his big sister has the cold!

Here are a few things I would like to remember about Jack at 3 months:
He is 15lbs. (this is by us weighing ourselves on the scale and then weighing him with us)
He is about 25in. long (guessing)
Sleeping at least 9hrs at night, every now and then 10!
Has found his hands when sitting up right-they've always kind of been everywhere, he now has more control of them
Grabs for toys and likes to put them in his mouth
Smiles, laughs and talks a lot
Had his first cold (thanks to his mama!)
Getting close to rolling over from tummy to back and back to tummy
Has pretty good head control and we are still working on it
Starting to outgrow 3-6 month clothes because of length!

New places he has been:
Movies (toy story 3)
Jarod's softball game
Mimi and Poppy's new house
His first road trip is tomorrow to Memphis!

Special Memory:
Celebrating Great Granny's 88th Birthday

*some of these pictures are from my phone, so the quality isn't all that great

I love his sweet smile

He drools a lot and blows spit bubbles. If you look closely you can see them in this picture.

Father's Day

We had a great Father's Day (at least I think we did and I hope Jarod did too!). We started it off Friday with Allie giving Jarod his present. We are not good at our house at waiting! Allie made Jarod a card and then gave him a bag of sunflower seeds and cotton candy. They are to take to the Rangers game this Friday (his real present). I thought it would be fun for Allie and Jarod to do together. We think it's a little too hot for Jack right now to be out there. Allie is really excited because they are having fireworks after the game and she gets to have cotton candy!
Father's Day always reminds me of how blessed we are as a family. God blessed my two kids with the most loving and supporting daddy. Jarod's whole face lights up when he is around his children. He is an amazing daddy and we are so blessed. I am also lucky that I am able to spend Father's Day with my own daddy. I love that I get to be with him and that my children get to be with their grandpa too!

For Father's Day we made breakfast together that morning and then we went to church with my parents, my brother's and their family. Then we ate amazing lasagna at my parents new house, opened a few presents and then we were off to see Toy Story 3. Jack did great for his first movie. He ate and then slept through the entire thing! I wish I would have gotten a picture, but no such luck. The movie was awesome! I even teared up at the end. I think a fun time was had by all. I hope all of the other dad's out there had a great day as well.

Jack never does well in pictures like this

My two favorite guys!

My favorite guy and my favorite girl

I look like a clown in this picture. My cheeks are so rosy and my lips are all shiny!

My two loves

Hawaiian Falls

Every summer we get season passes to Hawaiian Falls in The Colony. Allie loves playing there with her friends and I enjoy her friends mommies! Last year Jarod got a pass too and he got another one this year. Allie is at a fun age now and enjoys going down all of the slides. It's something nice we can either do as a family or with friends. We made our first trip on Memorial Day. Jack was such a trooper! These pictures are from our first trip. I haven't been able to get the camera out any of the other times because I am one busy momma when I'm out there. Thanks to my sweet friends (Michelle, Kristen and Meredith) for helping me with Allie and Jack. If I didn't have your help, I wouldn't be out there!

I can't believe the only picture I got of Allie was of her eating yogurt!