March 2015

This past March we were able to finish Jefferson's bedroom. I have the greatest friends who spent a day shopping, assembling, and artistically creating with me and voila:

Another good friend also helped me refinish our front door:

And we are just loving our little man! Jefferson is growing fast- 15 lbs, grabbing things with his chubby fists and fascinated with being around people. He is more and more alert when we go for walks and likes to see all he can see, He is making gurgling noises and loves to gurgly talk with people. He still cries when ma-ma sneezes and he has regressed in his amazing sleeping habits and for whatever reason is now waking up multiple times at night, but he is still such a sweet baby and loves getting his diaper changed, being with ma-ma and daddy doing whatever we are doing, and having his bath, music time and reading time. And he loves kiss attacks on his chubby cheeks. He got kisses from his doggies (our friends dogs) Jupiter and Phoebe and petted a horse for the first time this month. We are excited for spring hikes with him soon.

February 2015

This February has been more like spring and we have enjoyed going on our daily walk up to the lake with Jefferson. He is 3 months old and doing great. We do need to find him his own pair of sunglasses, though.

Jefferson is enjoying his daily music time with ma-ma on piano and daddy on guitar. He likes to be close to the instrument and right on our laps when we play so he can watch.

He is liking tummy time more and more and his legs are getting very strong, so he wants to stand up whenever he can.

We went for the first time with him to Wheeler Farm with Angie and Dixie and he fussed a bit, Brad theorized he didn't like the smell, but Dixie sure had fun.

He is still loving his bath, especially when he gets his mo-hawk after.

I celebrated my 32nd birthday and my cousins and I switched up our previously hoped for Ireland trip for a short little Vegas getaway. We did dine at an Irish restaurant though and "toasted" an Ireland trip in the next 5 years.

And we celebrated my birthday with the family at The Old Spaghetti Factory

January 2015

A new year and lots of adventures. Brad started the year with a 2 week business trip to Istanbul for his company UFS. When he came home gas prices had plummeted and his company had to make some major cut backs. So Brad's department of 1 was downsized as the company's main focus is now staying afloat in the US.  After the past year of our lives, we are firm believers in trusting God's plans, God's plan is always better than our plans. And though we wouldn't have planned for Brad's work at UFS to end this way, we trust that it will lead him where he needs to be with his career. In the meantime we are counting our blessings- which is a joy to do.

While Brad was in Istanbul, Jefferson and I stayed with Mom and Dad J. He was doted on by so many friends and family. We are grateful for family close by, and too many friends to keep in touch with. Dad J did not like that Jefferson had to do tummy time each day, though for the first few minutes he is happy.

Jefferson is moving a lot more now when he is awake and loves to be around people.

Jefferson had his 2 month Doctors visit and was pronounced in the 50th percentile in all categories. His doctor said, "you don't find more normal that that." He cooed at the doctors and nurses and they told him he is such a good baby. He was not very happy when he had his shots and was very happy to come home and find his cuddly.

We are grateful for the kind women who donated breast milk for 2 months. He is strong and very healthy because of it. We have now transitioned to formula. Jefferson is defying tummy time pretty regularly now by rolling over.

He has decided his fist is quite tasty, and his feet are fun to look at. And he is much more fascinated by his mobiles.

Getting things done around the house and dinner time are going very well because he loves to be in both of his carriers.

And he is loving the super man and football holds. 

We celebrated Paradura Del Nino with some of our friends and family and Jefferson's Madrina taught us how to make arepas and sang for us. Paradura Del Nino is traditionally the last Christmas gathering in Venezuela where you sing a few more Christmas songs and focus on the growing Christ child and his mission. It literally means "the standing of the child." We love celebrating all these cultural holidays, and it gives a great excuse to keep Christmas decor up longer and enjoy it more.