Jacob's Baptism

Jacob was baptized on September 20, 2009. It was a wonderful day of celebration for our family and some close friends. Growing up Baptist, Jared and I were both unsure about infant baptism when we first started attending West End. However, after hearing Carter (the preacher) explain the significance of it, we felt like it was what we wanted to do for Jacob.

Jacob being baptized was NOT his salvation. That is a decision he will have to make on his own when he gets older. In raising Jacob we will do everything we can to point him to Christ, so that as Carter says, "he will not know a day without God". We continue to pray in expectation for the day when Jacob will accept Christ as his personal Savior and enter into communion with Him.

Baptism at West End is a very special thing. Carter does a wonderful job and we were so excited that our family and friends could be there to share it with us. Here are some pictures of the big day...

Sweet baby
Before the service started

Waiting with Pops

Our family stood up there with us

Carter giving us a charge as parents to raise this child up in the Lord

Explaining to the congregation about infant baptism

The actual baptism

Praying over our family

Welcoming Jacob Thomas Vaughn to the church

Our family after the service

With the aunts - special thanks to Leanna and Emily for making the long trips to be there with us

My very special friend and mentor, Ms. Betty

She has played such a part in my spiritual journey. It was really special to me that she came

After church, the family and a few special friends came over to our house for lunch. We had good food and good times.

Getting home

I know this is a sad picture, but he just looks so cute in his outfit

Running down the hall with Emily

Looking at pictures with Gran

Eating a banana popsicle

The perfect end to a perfect day

"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." - Romans 10:13

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"For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might...For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." - Colossians 1:9-14

Randomness

So, Jared and I did another home improvement project last weekend. We put new hardware on our kitchen cabinets. We plan to do the bathrooms as well, but that's another day. Here's a look at the before and after...

Before
My man hard at work

Samson oversaw the project

After

Doesn't it look good?

I know what you're thinking. You want to go home and do YOUR cabinets now.

Jacob having a fun/weird day in his highchair. The following pictures were taken after breakfast a few days ago. I have such an expression and funny child.

Don't ask

The beginnings of the rabbit/bull nose - He makes this scrunchy face ALL the time

Drinking some water

By the way...these are my FAVE FAVE FAVE pajamas right now

ok - so this picture encapsulates the POOP face.

We always know when Jacob is pooping b/c he bears down really hard, makes these grunting noises, his face gets all red, and his lip always curls up to the side like this. So glad I caught the lip curl on camera. Hmm...wondering when I'll be able to pull this one back out for some blackmail. :)

All better

Right before I took him out to change him

Jacob loves to play guitar with Jared. It is the absolute cutest thing

Wake up sleepy head.

I love Saturday mornings. Jacob always wakes me up by climbing on my face and giving me a BIG slobbery kiss. It doesn't get better!!!

Waking up from a nap. He's always so happy

Wonderful Weekend

Jared came home Thursday feeling sick and I thought we weren't going to be able to spend much time with him. Well...he ended up feeling a lot better (after 12 1/2 hours of sleep) and we had a wonderful few days just doing family stuff. Thought we'd share some of it with you....

Jacob watching Pops shave while playing in the Jumper (don't know what we'll do when we can't use this thing anymore). Jacob LOVES to watch his daddy get ready for work. I think it's so fun that they spend this time together.

Notice Samson doesn't even care that Jacob is jumping ON him (what a great dog!!)

Jacob and I spent all of Friday just playing and having fun together. I love days like these...

J found a paper towel roll and thought it was a super cool toy
Samson did too
These two are so funny together. They really do interact like siblings.

J Man playing on the stairs - he's not climbing them yet though!

Looking out the window -adorable

Jacob is obsessed with the telephone. He loves to listen to people on it. Lately he has begun recognizing voices over the phone. If his daddy, an aunt, or one of his grandparents calls I hold the phone up to his ear. Jacob will listen for a second and then will start smiling and laughing. He then turns toward the phone like he is trying to look for them.....so so sweet.

Caught in the act of playing with something that's not really a toy
"What did I do?"

Playing with his letters -this toy has revolutionized my life. I can now cook and know he is entertained

Oh, what a sweet sharer

Pulling his toys out

Reading a book

Ok, so I helped a friend move a few weeks ago and brought this box home. We pull it out occassionally. Jake thinks it is just the funnest thing to play in. Who says you need the expensive stuff. We thought he might be scared of it....nope. Not our child.

This is how I woke up on Saturday morning. Jacob standing over me, smiling. Not a bad way to start the day. He loves to pull up on our headboard and then look back at you with this "did you see what I just did" expression. Priceless.

We spent all of Saturday at Grammy and Papa Doc's house. They have an old highchair that Jared and I are refinishing....pics of the finished product to come. We didn't work all day though.....

Mama I'm hungry...please feed me

Playing with the spinny top

Pulling up

Hello. Is anyone there?

(isn't this a fun toy?)

All the great-grandparents came to visit little man. This was the best pic we got.

Taken after Jacob spied mommy from around the corner

We're having a bit of separation anxiety at the moment

I'm not gonna lie though - the fact that this sweet little boy wants his mama this much makes me one happy girl

Swinging

Taking a break

Playing on Grammy's exercise ball

Wheeeeee

Ok. So we gave the boy some ice cream as a treat. He decided he wanted to eat it lying down. So here is Jacob chillin in his Pop's lap while his Grammy feeds him vanilla bean. Life doesn't get much better!!!!!

Snuggling with Pop Pop

Diaper helmet

Jacob found a roll of toilet paper that he thought was interesting

Sunday we went to lunch with Coach. When we left my dad put Jake in his carseat and told him good bye. As soon as that door shut Jacob started screaming. This boy LOVES his Coach. All through lunch Jacob kept reaching out to him and would not go to either Jared or myself. I think it's so sweet he loves his grandad so much.

Last night we went to our first Community Group through West End. There were 4 other couples there and a few others. The group has about 8 or 9 kids in it. We ate tacos and just spent some time getting to know each other. Jared and I are so excited to finally be plugged in to a group. Everyone was really nice and we are looking forward to sharing life with this new group of people.

Jacob even had a fun time playing with all the other kids. There is one that is about his age, a newborn and then several older kids. I think it will be so good for him to have this interaction with other kiddos.

The end to a long weekend

J's hair has had enough

Wishing everyone a Happy Monday!!!!