Holiday Parade

Jake & Mommy went to the Kalamazoo holiday parade this morning with Aunt Amy, Julie, Aunt Stephie, Uncle John, Collin, Julia, and Aunt Stephie's parents & brother's family.

You can see how it ended...

Just before the "lights went out"

Still taking in the entertainment at this point...

Mommy & Jake watching the parade

All bundled up before we left...he could barely move!

Hoo hoo hoo hewooo! (Tigger)

Jake, Jason & I had lots of fun on Halloween. We went to our church's Harvest party & had dinner at church, then we visited Grandma Kennedy. Jake was tuckered otu by the end, but it made for some adorable pictures.

Daddy & Jake

In awe, watching all the kids "Trunk & Treating"

Trying to crawl on the table (notice the tail...)

Checking out the big tractor



With his pals Julia & Collin
Julia was a princess, and Collin was a Pirate who doesn't do anything (Veggie Tales)...for those of you who know my friend Stephanie & her son Collin, you'll appreciate the humor of this costume!

Mommy & Jake

Totally tired out in between rides to the various stops...

Seeing Grandma...she had a special treat just for Jake, since she knew Mom wouldn't go for the chocolate all the big kids at her house were getting. Jake got Puffs! How perfect!

Stephanie let Jake try a sucker...he was ALL about that! :)

With "Aunt" Stephie

Crawling

Jake's attempts at crawling a couple of nights ago ended up with him stuck under the couch (he's only proficient at sliding backward at this point...). We thought it was too cute & funny to miss a photo opportunity, but he's looking at us like "What are you doing?! Put the camera down & get me outta here, silly!"

8 months old!

Jake turned 8 months old last week...I cannot believe how quickly the time seems to be passing by. I just want him to stop changing so fast, sometimes! :) He is sitting very well, and starting to try to get from a sitting to a crawling position. Once in the crawling position, he usually ends up moving backwards right now, rather than forward toward whatever his goal is...pretty funny to watch. He also loves to stand up & will stand up against furniture and pull himself up from a sitting position to a standing position, given your fingers to help. Then he'll usually get a little cocky and try to do it one-handed...he's not so talented at that yet. :) He is talking up a storm, making the ma, ba, wa, and da sounds...though we're pretty sure it's not in connection with anything...he does seem to say mama when he wants something. I don't think he realizes that's me...he just knows it gets a reaction. :) He loves to spit his food at me when he's eating his cereal, fruits, & veggies...just experimenting with the texture, I think...but that means he's been learning the meaning of "No-no!" :) Anyway, here are some pictures of him playing this morning & some random other cute pictures. Enjoy!

Trying to crawl toward his toys. Shortly after this, he pushed his arms out, which resulted in moving backwards and laying on his tummy on the floor, and he just looked at me, like "that's not what I meant to do..."

He was able to reach far enough to get his ball, and as you can see, he was very excited about it.

"Hi Mom!"

Happy in the jumperoo...nothing new there...except he is always jumping now...before, he just enjoyed watching the lights & toys & movement when he would shift in his seat. His legs actually touch the floor now though, so he is actively jumping.

All cute after a bath, snuggled up in his puppy towel with Daddy.

Trip to Virginia

Jake, Mommy, and Daddy spent the last 10 days near Winchester, VA for Daddy's National civil war shooting competition. Here are lots of pictures from our vacation there.

Jake in his "Mechanics and Engineers" costume, made by Grandma W. so he could dress like Daddy & Grandpa

All 3 of us at the Virgina Farm Market

Can you find Jake?

Proud boy, standing next to the big pumpkin

More standing...

"Eating" a miniature pumpkin...everything is explored by Jake's mouth these days

Feeling and smelling the pretty mums with Mommy

Showing off his talent for eating his toes...if only I were that flexible!

Wearing his camo pj's to bed, to celebrate the start of deer season back home in MI (which Daddy missed the start of, since we were in VA)

Being cute

This one is for Jake's Grandmas...as you can imagine, most of the shooters are McCain supporters due to their strong opinions about gun freedoms. One of the shooters was handing out these buttons. Mommy's undecided, but just for the Grandmas, who are both Obama supporters, we had to take this picture...don't blame him though...he doesn't get to vote until 2026!

Mastering the sippy cup

Cuddling with Mommy before bed one night

With Aunt Jen and Uncle Joe, who live in Blacksburg and came to visit us for a couple days

Snuggling with Daddy when he finally got a break at the end of the shoot!

Bath Time Fun

We got some great bath time pictures this past week...and a video below. Jake's really getting into it! Also, a couple HUGE smile pictures for you at the bottom...

Splashing Around