roadtrippin...

About a month after Jack was born we went on our first road trip to Seattle. My mom got all of us kids tickets to the US men's national soccer team qualifier against Panama and we just couldn't pass up the chance to see them play.

 

Unfortunately Jim still had school so he missed it; Terry was able to ride with us and help with Jack along the way.

 

Here's Jack all ready to go

 

As you can see Uncle Terry was a big help :)

 

We drove over the morning of the game and stopped at Sheila's beforehand to hang out with all the kids. Here are all 4 cousins together

 

Anne Marie is just 3 days younger than Jack. It will be great fun watching these two together.

 

Here's grandma with all 4 of her grand kids.

She sure does have her hands full

 

 

I was not too sure how Jack would do at such a loud game so he got to spend some quality time with his Auntie Katie while mom went to the game. Here he is loaded up headed to her house

 

 

At the game watching the warm ups



President Obama sent a message to the team and fans

 

 

SCARF'S UP!

 

Both teams taking the pitch

The Sounder Soccer Fans are intense and so fun to watch a game with

our seats were fantastic!

Seriously such an awesome event to attend! 

It was a quick trip but well worth it and we all had a great time.

 

 

here we are on the way home. Jack struggled a little bit more on the way home so Uncle Terry moved back and kept him company.

 

He really is the best uncle around :)

 

Here we are all loaded up to head back home

 

Baby Announcements...

We had some professional newborn pics taken about 10 days after jack was born. Here is the announcement they did for us

 

on a related note if you have picture needs, contact Twin View Photography. They are seriously great, and very reasonably priced! We loved them and are already using them again :)

Babies and BBQ's...

About two weeks after Jack's birth the perfect storm of friends took place and it was glorious!

Almost all of my girlfriends (plus kids) happened to be in town as did almost all of Jim's friends; so what better thing to do than throw a BBQ.

 

Why would that be a problem two weeks after giving birth? Actually it was pretty easy, all my friends provided all the food, everyone brought their own beer so all I really had to do was provide the location. Unfortunately I failed miserably at taking pictures and the only ones I could steal were of the girls...but the boys were also there and made for an even better party :)

We are definitely blessed in the friend department!

 

 

I swear Harper is half the size of Auntie Stone

 Cooper with his Aunties Megan and Fuller

 All the babes!

Harper, Sienna, Cooper, and baby Jack

 things are a bit more chaotic when we all get together now...

 Fuller and Cooper, Megan and Harper

it takes a lot of cameras to get a good shot of four infants :)

 

Baptized...

About 2 weeks after Jack was born, we were blessed to have him baptized at the Gonzaga Prep Chapel. It was a very intimate ceremony, with just our families and close friends, lead by Fr. Greg Vance S.J. It was a perfect, touching, heartfelt, and meaningful sacrament to watch.

 

John Lamanna and Megan Snyder are Jack's Godparents. We could not ask for two better people to guide Jack in his life and in his faith. 

 



 

Jack is one lucky boy to have John and Megan as his Godparents; two very special people in our lives and now his. 

Bathtime...

 

While Kristen and Kelsey were visiting we I decided to attempt giving Jack his first bath. This was a whole new deal for me (and him) and I figured the more hands the better.  Kelsey was in charge of photography, Kristen held him in the tub, and I did the dirty work.

 Poor guy was not thrilled with any of this

 He did however love snuggling up after in his towel

And once all was said and done and he was warm, and dry and clean and content he decided to poop...in his towel. Nice work son :)

 

 He has since learned to love his bathtime and so far no more accidents...*fingers crossed, knock on wood!



Cuddles with the Katos...

I have the best friend in the whole world. Kristen lives all the way across the country in NYC and a day after Jack was born she flew all the way home to meet him! Jack LOVES his Auntie Kristen and misses her when she is gone. He got to meet the entire Kato Clan a few days after we got home and he loved every second of it.

 

Kelsey, Jack and Auntie Kristen

I adore this picture.

Smiling for his Auntie



Sleeping for Mark. He's got the touch

Being this cute is tiring

all snuggled up thanks to Mark's Swaddle

Auntie Kelsey lovin on Jack.

<3 p="">

This family means so much to me, they are my second family and I love them all so much. I could not have been happier to have them all come meet Jack. Now if only Auntie Kristen lived a bit closer for more consistent cuddles...

First days...

Jack's first days at home consisted of visits from friends and family, sleeping, eating, taking 4651654 pictures of our little man, and trying to adjust to our new life as a family of 3! here are some A LOT of pictures of those first few days.

 

 cuddles with Auntie Megan

 trying out the vibrating chair

 extreme close up

 enough mom!

 freak out face

 cuddles with daddy!

 what's with the flash mom?

 I sleep like my dad

 Stella meeting baby Jack for the first time

We could not be more blessed with all the love, support and help all our family and friends showed and continue to show for us and for Jack.