Jacob's Birthday Weekend Extravaganza!!!!

Our sweet little boy turned ONE last Saturday, October 31st...our little Halloween baby! We had a great weekend of celebration. I can't believe Jacob is already a year old. The time has gone by so fast. This has hands down been the best year of my life. This time last year I was just getting used to having a baby and now I can't imagine a day without my little monkey man. The following note was written on J's actual bday.

Jacob,
Today you are ONE. Can you believe it!?! This year has gone by so fast. I remember last year when you came early. I could not wait to meet you, and hold you, and kiss you, and snuggle you, and watch you sleep, and rock you, and read to you...I could go on forever. Now I love to watch you feed yourself, wave bye bye, clap your hands, stand up by yourself, play with your toys, and get excited about so many things. I love to watch your eyes light up - those big, beautiful blue eyes that just melt my heart. And, I love to listen to your silly, precious giggle. You can make me laugh like no one else. I love it when you want to snuggle with me and read a book. You have come a long way from the newborn I held in my arms for the first time 12 months ago. I am so proud of you and the way you are growing. It is so fun to watch you learn and explore this great big world around you. I hope you never lose your excitement and passion for life. You are such a happy, playful, loving, gentle, inquisitive child and I absolutely LOVE those qualities about you. I pray you will continue to be this same person as you get older. Oh, how I love you so. God know just what child would be perfect for me and I am so very honored to be your mommy! I have loved this first year with you. Getting to know you and pour into your life. I look forward to year two. May it brings as many blessings as this first year has.

All my love,
Mom
(Be warned - there are MANY pictures to follow....)

We had two birthday parties. Saturday was for friends and Sunday was for family. The first pictures are from the friend party. The kids came dressed up in costume. So stinkin' cute!!!

Birthday sign

Present Central

Party Favors

Waiting for guests to arrive with Papa Doc

Family Photo Time

Me and the monkey

Sweetest little monkey I know

Playing with Becca

Emma dressed as Fancy Nancy

Addy the peacock

Jacob snuggling with Matt

Playtime

Having a moment with Pops

Jeremy and the BDay boy

Taylor didn't want to wear her costume

The Corn's

Getting ready for cake

Yummo!!!!

Messy Messy

Present time

Cars

Super fun books

What's in here?

Blocks

Super cute bib that Jenny made

Noah's Ark and a Krispy Kreme hat from the Crawfords. Thanks guys!!

Aunts

The Shoe's

Daren the donut guy

Of course we had to do a little trick or treating Saturday night. Here's a family shot before we left the house.

Showing Coach his dump truck - I think this was one of his favorite presents

Balloons of Fun

Too Too Cute

LeeLee and her monkey

Sunday was the family party. It was just as fun as Saturday. Jacob was definitely celebrated well. We got yummy cupcakes from the Cupcake Connection. I almost didn't want to eat them they looked so good. Almost.

Present Central...again

Snuggling with Tara

Sweet Pappy

Mot Mot

Cupcakes 2 days in a row

Delish

Do you think he likes sweets?

Going for a ride on the dump truck

I like my caterpillar

The wheels on the bus go round and round

The wagon

Checking out his new toys

Trying out the wagon for the first time -we LOVE it

Happy 1st Birthday Buddy!!!

Mom, Happy Fall, Playtime, Zoo, Weekend Trip to the SC, and Birthday Party #1

So I've not been so good lately about updates. I'm gonna try to do better. As for now, here's a WHOLE bunch of stuff we've been up to.
A couple of weeks ago we celebrated my mom's birthday. Here is mom with her favorite grandson before his bedtime.

There's a nice old man that runs a pumpkin patch out of his front yard on the road to our house. We went there and took some pictures of little man with the pumpkins. After all, being born on October 31st Jacob is a pumpkin himself.

The next couple of pictures were taken before going to Grammy and Papa Doc's for a sleepover. I was trying to get Jacob's food together.

He decided to help me pack the cooler

It was FULL of ice and he thought it was so fun to stick his hands in there. Go figure!!!!

Attacking Grammy when she walked through the door.

This boy hearts his grandparents in a major way.

Riding his toy

Why he likes to crawl inside his toy box I have no clue. Super duper cute though!!

The weather was so nice last week that we took our first ever trip to the zoo. Boy did Jacob have a blast. It was even better because J's aunt Jayme joined us for the fun.

This is the meercat that Jacob had a staring contest with

Fascinated by the animals

Watching the zebras. They came up really close

J really liked to pet the goats. He even drooled all over one. Good thing the goat didn't mind.

Pint size goat for a pint size kid

Jacob and Jayme on the play mat

This was by far the funnest thing of the day. Jacob had the best time crawling everywhere and falling on the mats. We could have stayed forever except for that darn thing called a nap. :)

Wheee

SO. MUCH. FUN.

This past weekend we took a trip to South Carolina to visit my grandmother and the rest of the family. Jared, my mom, Jacob, and I went down on Thursday and then my dad came down Saturday afternoon. Here's some photos from our time...

Jacob and Pops playing peek a boo through the glass

J loved crawling back and forth between the den and the screened porch

On Saturday my cousin's baby Graham had his 1st birthday. He and Jacob are 11 days apart. Which I think is really fun b/c his mommy and I are only 18 days apart. I love that our boys are so close in age. We went to the party and I think you'll be able to tell that Jacob had a fabulous time.

Graham with his cake

This kid was funny. He did NOT like his cake at all and would not have anything to do with it. Fran kept trying to get him to taste the icing. He would make the funniest faces and turn his head away. Oh well, I guess sweets aren't for everyone!

J playing with Graham's present

The bday boys in their bday hats

All the great-grandkids. Plus Jared.

Jacob helping open the presents

Graham got this super fun alphabet train and as you can see all the kids wanted it

Taking a ride on the train

Meredith giving Jacob a bottle. Poor petite thing - he's almost as big as she is

Reading, I mean eating a book before bedtime

Playing with his new fun car mat that my cousin Anna and the two girls gave him

My grandmother has this long hallway and Jacob thought it was so fun to crawl up and down it. Here he is playing with his daddy.

Snuggling with Uncle Troy

Swinging

is so much fun

Going for a ride in the wagon

We had a small party for both Jacob and Graham on Sunday at my aunt's house. Since all of them live too far to come celebrate with us this weekend, we thought we'd party a little early.

Jacob's 1st cupcake

Getting some icing

Hmmmm...I think he likes it. How about you?

Opening some presents

Which one do I play with first?

Wonder what's in here?

Playtime with Mama before bed

Ok. I know this picture is weird. But, it was funny. I kept trying to get my grandmother to stick out her tongue. Everytime she tried to do it she made the funniest faces. Here's the best picture we got. Ha ha...I love her so much!!!

On the way home we stopped in Atlanta so Jacob could visit with his other great grandmother for a bit. Here they are in deep discussion about the cd player.

Working on walking. It won't be long now.

And last of all. A picture of me and my sweet boy. I can't believe he is going to be a year old tomorrow. Where has the time gone? We've got big plans for the celebration and can't wait to share. But, I think I might shed a few tears tomorrow as well.