Out-Takes

Jesse's a mover and a shaker. He's actually a kicker and a jumper, which makes it difficult to get focused pictures of the boy. :) He closes his eyes a lot, because our camera has an initial light that maybe decreases red eye... I'm not sure. I may call it 'the Jesse eye closer' light, instead.

The great thing about digital cameras is that we don't have to print these pictures. Back in the day...when I was growing up, my parents would have two glossy pictures of each of these out-takes. That's how it worked back then. :) We always got two of each picture when we took the film in to get developed...what was that called?!

Anyhow. I don't have to get these developed, but they're funny. I love EVERY picture of my sweet boy!

He wears himself out

What was I thinking...taking a picture of a bouncing boy?

Caught trying to wreck Dad's glasses. Barry did that, too!

He usually smiles great big when I go in to get him when he wakes up. He was caught off guard by the camera. :)

He was headed up or down... just not looking at me

You can't blame him for this silly look - it was his first time to eat

This is probably from the 'Make-Jesse-Blink' light

It apparently affects Grandpas too :)

Oh, man...Jesse :)

Jesse gets this terrific 'bewildered' look on his face :)

Visiting Great Grandpa

Jesse's lucky enough to have a Great Grandma and a Great Grandpa. All of Jesse's grandparents are better than great, but I'm referring to my Grandma and Scott's Grandpa. :)



When we were in Bartlesville, we went to see Scott's Grandpa's new place. Jesse and his Great Grandpa got along terrifically. :) Jesse showed off how he can stand and roll around on the floor. We're so proud of all his tricks. :)

I can stand on my Great Grandpa's lap



And I can stand on the floor

Watch me put my feet together

Then watch me put them on both sides of your feet, Great Grandpa

The stare down

This is how my boys went back to the car. Jesse LOVES being on Daddy's shoulder's, but he grabs hair in his excitement. I'm sure it's painful for Scott, but I love it. Jesse's thrilled, and it's SOOO cute! :)

Trip to Bartlesville

After our trip to Enid, we headed to Bartlesville. Jesse was a good rider. He's awake more than he used to be when we drive, which means that Mama get to be entertaining. When riding around town, I ride in the front with Scott now. I rode back with Jesse for quite a while. On long trips, I usually ride with Jesse...between Barry and Jesse. Barry will lay his head on my and get all up in my business. It's quite crowded, but I can try to distract Jesse from a screaming fit. Those screaming fits in the car make me want to poke my eyes and ears out.

We were very, very happy to get to Bartlesville. Bartlesville holds some new things for Scott and me: great babysitters and the opportunity to get out and about my ourselves are two new things I enjoy. :)

One of the first new things we noticed was a new high chair all ready for Jesse. It had been a yellow and natural wood colored high chair that had been used at least by baby Laura, Scott, and Haley. Jesse's Papa had sanded it down and painted it, so now it's black and wood. It's beautiful...and still allows Jesse to look manly at the same time. :) Jesse's Papa is quite the handyman. :) I'll write more about his homemade ice cream in a bit. :) Jesse enjoyed several meals in the newly done-up high chair.

The highchair Jesse gets to use at his Grandparents' house is much cooler than the one he uses every day at our house. :)

On Thursday we had an early 4th of July miracle! Jesse took a bottle of formula, which meant we could leave him with his Grandparents while Scott and I went to Tulsa for his friend's rehearsal dinner. Getting to leave Jesse is such a rare thing for us, and we welcomed it. What great babysitters he had! :) Scott and I went to Tulsa - feeling footloose and baby-free. :) Can I tell you that I'm new at leaving my kid? I did the worse thing....left with a phone with a VERY low charge. What kind of mom does that?! An inexperienced leaving Mama, that's who. In spite of my bad decision making, I enjoyed being with Scott. He took me to look at and order a band for my engagement ring. What a great guy!! I'm spoiled. Then we got to go visit Krissa. Krissa got married in March, and I hadn't seen her house. It's great! I love seeing Krissa and Justin coming together in the decorating. I had always been a little jealous of Krissa getting to decorate any way she wanted as a single girl. Justin's doing a great job of letting her compromise. Well done, Justin! :) Krissa and Justin looked great. Danielle was there, too, and I love seeing Danielle.

These boys have been friends for a long time


My dear friend Krissa and our men

After the visit with Krissa, we went to the rehearsal dinner. It was outside in a park, and they couldn't have asked for better weather for July in Oklahoma. It was SO pleasantly mild, and I loved every second of it. Scott to see several of his guy friends from high school. It makes me happy when they get to see each other. They're good guys. When we got home, we found that Jesse had been good for his evening with Grandparents...at least that's what they told us. Who knows how many spankings he had to get. :)

Friday was Perfect! The whole family got together for an early 4th of July. What good sports to come up to Bville and hang out. Nancy is such a great hostess and cook, and David grilled. I certainly do NOT mind having such great food prepared for me the whole time we're in Bartlesville. I told Scott it's a new kind of vacation for me. I don't have to cook, clean, do laundry, PLUS I have lots of great help with Jesse. Anyhow - back to Friday. I turned into the embarrassing picture-taking wife of Scott. Everyone likes to act like they're annoyed with the constant picture taking, but I reassure them that they'll appreciate the pics one day. Another bonus to being the picture taker is that there are fewer pics of me. :) We got a great picture with all the family and three of the dogs. Mike didn't bring his three dogs. We could have had a regular dog park in the backyard. :) The sad thing about the great family picture is that Laura's boyfriend (at the time) Ryan took the pic only to become her fiance about a week later. The picture is already out-dated! Oh well, we'll get all dressed up for their wedding and take a pretty picture then. If he had insisted on being in the pic, he may have given away his impending secret proposal. :)

What a good lookin' bunch!

After picture taking, we had a great dinner followed by a rousing game of Chicken Foot. Scott's grandpa even stayed and played until 11:30. What a great sport! :) I love dominoes with the family. Laura and Ryan stayed the night, but who could drive back to Tulsa once we'd gone through the dominoes double 12s all the way down to double zero?

Saturday was Mickey's wedding. What a fun treat to, again, have an evening with free and great babysitters. :) Jesse was a little bit more of a stinker that evening. He insisted on being held while sleeping. Little goober. :) Thanks, Grandma, for being the arms! :)

If you're anywhere in the Northwest part of Oklahoma on the 4th of July, I suggest you stop in to the Blakemores and try to snag some of Jesse's Papa's homemade ice cream. Oh my goodness. There's not much else that can compare to eating homemade ice cream. I'm typically a chocolate girl. I'd never go to Braum's and get a scoop of vanilla. But homemade vanilla is the best! There were even fun toppings available, which I would normally love. But homemade vanilla needs no additions. It's perfectly perfect all on it's own - not tainted by another lesser tastey topping. :)

What an incredible trip! Family, friends, great food, a couple nights out with the hubby, chicken foot, homemade ice cream, great pics... Why did we ever leave? :)

Eddie jumped to get some love from his Grandma and Jesse. He hasn't learned that Jesse will pull and pull on his hair.

Jesse and Grandma like to swing on the back porch. Good boy, Jesse! I love that swing, too!

Trip to Enid

We went to Oklahoma for a week around the 4th of July. We stayed one night with Uncle Adam and Aunt Leigh on the way up. I LOVE seeing Adam's apartment with Leigh and her stuff in it! :) It's much improved from being the bachelor pad. Good job, Leigh! We drove to Enid the next morning. I also love breaking up the trip to OK into two days now that we travel with Jesse. I used to want to press through. Jesse has changed that...along with lots of other things: my sleeping schedule, the landscape of my stomach, my standard for 'being ready' each day... :) All those things are expendable to me. :)

Grandma likes to get her hands on the boy

I love that lots of our family come to my parents' house when we're there. Toby, Yvette, and Sweet Elyse came and stayed a couple nights. Thanks guys!!! I love every second I get to spend with them and my precious niece. She's a DOLL! There are some major differences between her and Jesse. I say she's a lady, and he's my rowdy boy. In her bouncy seat, Elyse moves her feet in circles, while Jesse nearly bounces himself out of there with his wild kicks. When Elyse eats, she holds her arms straight out to her sides, and Jesse rubs both hands in the spoon, in his mouth, and all over this face and hair. Elyse is sleeping more than Jesse at night, letting her Mama and Daddy sleep, and Jesse likes to wake me up to make sure he's still my number one. I'd do anything for the kids...obviously. :) I love my Elyse and my Jesse, and I wouldn't trade either for anything.

See the difference in the bouncy-seat action. She's lookin' at him like, 'calm down, cous.'

We like to switch babies

My big tough brother is such a softy

Some more fun visitors were Jesse's Great-Aunt Diana (I think it's funny to say GREAT-Aunt), Great-Aunt Cindy, Great-Aunt Gingie...I guess they brought Wayne and Lyle with them. :) We got to see Kacy, Cassie, Gavin, and Ella. One of Jesse's biggest fans is his cousin Ella. She plays babydolls and lots of them are named Jesse. It's a good thing she's a little girl, or I'd have to straighen her out...she calls Jesse a 'her' and some of her 'Jesse' dolls wear dresses. :) I'm kidding. There's no straightening her out - I love that kid!!! She's the best at 'bink patrol'. Anytime Jesse fusses, cries, or sits there, she runs for his pacifier and sticks it right in. She knows her stuff.

Jesse with Gingie

Gavin and Ella taking care of Jesse

We got to visit Joshua at the fire station. He's so brave and was obviously made to do this. I get nervous every time I think of him having to rush out when he gets a call. While we were at the station getting a tour, we asked Joshua how it works when he gets called. He explained that you'll hear a buzz/beep that goes out to all the stations. Then a follow-up will specify which station/which crew needs to go. A few minutes later, just before we got to the truck part of the tour, we hard the first signal. No big deal. Then, the 2nd. Joshua said, 'That's us', handed Jesse off, and rushed out. We left. I got to see him hurry down the road, sirens blaring. My brave little, huge, muscley brother. I'm so proud.

Jesse knows he's safe with Uncle Joshy

At the Fire Station: before he got the call to go save the day.

We made a few good purchases while we were in Enid. We ate burgers at The Pink Flamingo: a little hole-in-the-wall place I've been to maybe once in my life. It was good. I loved getting to get a cherry-lime-aide from Lennox. They have the best cherry-lime-aides ever. Nevermind that 3/4 of mine got dumped off the coffee table by a giant dog's tail. Grrrrr. Toby and Yvette purchased a sundae for us at Sonic. Good purchase. And we got Jesse a Johnny Jump Up from Walmart. Our little jumper had a little bit of a tough time with the tighter spring (compared to his Jumperoo), but he sure learned how to spin in it! :) That was entertaining for Jesse...and the rest of us. :)

Jesse-Jump-Up

One more of the reasons I LOVE being at my parents' house is that my mom is a cheerful early riser...a lot like my son. :) Only she gets up much earlier and stays up. Jesse gets up early...then heads back to bed. When my mom's around, she's up when he gets up. She lets me feed him, then she takes over. I wish I could take her with me back to Katy... :( I like getting extra sleep. Thanks Mama!!! I love you!!!!

Grandma takin' over Jesse for me early in the morning so I can go back to sleep. Ahhhhh, sleep!

It's just hard to leave family, but our next stop was incredible as well...