PICS

My angelic baby boy, ready to go sledding on daddy's last day!
In Germany at lunch, he was being crazy crazy!!
Daddy and Jacob playing!!

So today is friday, and Jacob and i decided we are staying around the house all day, i was hoping for beautiful weather but no luck, instead it's grey and chilly out there. we might venture to Rose's later after lunch.

so aside from just posting pics- does anyone have ideas how to get veggies into a baby???? at one point he would eat them mixed with mashed potatoes and cheese but not anymore.

Jacob is making porgress with a sippy cup, i dont intend to take the bottle away until around 1 yr, but i needed to get him to drink water, and he perfers that over juice!

He really wants to pull up but only make it to his knees, he did do it once at play group yesterday.

We have invested in baby gates and as i have one here in the living room i am listeniong to GEM cry abou havign to jump over it!!!! she needs the exercise so i am not helping.

I have been sorting through Jacobs clothes it seems he is fully out grown every 6-12 months thing and fits perfect in a 12 mth. THANKS Grandma and Gram for the spring wardrobe.

Love and Prayers

Jess and Jacob

p.s. Gem made it over the gate

MAMA and BYE BYE DADA

Hello everyone,

yes today is a very sad day in the Garner home, we had to say goodbye to daddy this morning. we now begin the count down to August and i am in the words of my mother in law "DONE WITH WINTER" and have moved into April!!! which makes it 5 months to go till daddy is home- for a while anyway.

Jacob is learning to say Mama and is doing very well "mam" is what comes out when he is upset and i swear he looks around for me. i said it before but i can not beleive how much he changed in the short time Josh was here. you could really see the joy he had with 2 parents.

It is hard however to be done with winter here since yesterday and even today we had SNOW on the ground here at the house! FOr Josh;s last day here we headed up to the mountain to do a litte sledding. Jacob didnt midn the snow at all, except when dad tried to trick him into eating it-YUCKY

Pictures are to follow, i promise i am working on uploading them all and posting some.

I feel a heavy burden in me after saying goodbye to Josh, it's all i can do to hold back the tears, which only lead to a sore throat and stuffy nose, and as i have learned doesnt help anything. Therfore i turn to my Serenity Prayer:

Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things i cannot change,

the coruage to change the things i can

and the wisdom to know the difference.

I also find strentgh in my good friend Tiana whose husband left this morning as well for some training in Germany. Please keep us all in your thoughts and prayers.

It's Official

Hello Everyone, i know, i said not till after Easter but i hope you are checking anyway because we have amazing news

Jacob Gregory at 10 months old is officialy a CRAWLER!!!!!!!! some yesterday and on film today he crawled to his toys and to me and daddy.

He has 5 and a half teeth, the 6th one just broke through.

Jacob is 31 inches long and weighs around 19 lbs.

He loves to babble and ba ba ba is his favorite word!!!!!

Happy Easter to all we wish you blessings for the season.

Our Weekend

Certificate of Baby Dedication

"Let the little children come to me and do not stop them for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs" Matthew 19:14

Jacob Gregory Garner

Today in front of our military family and friends Josh and I dedicated Jacob to the lord and our faith. It is similar to a baptismal however a dedication can be explained like this; Many parents seek to concerate their children to the lord, The dedication service is for the child to be recieved and welcomed by the congregation. It is also a time for both the parents and the congregation to dedicate ourselves to the raising of this child in the faith.

While Josh has been gone and I have been active in the PWOC, I have grown close to many, many families that have all loved on Jacob and watched him grow, it only seemed right to devote ourselves to raising Jacob as a Christian in front of all the wonderful people we have grown close with.

The event was very short notice but i am truly thankful for the Lords belssing that it all worked out. Our Chaplin was honored to meet Josh, he has been such a supporter of the deployed spouses and a support system for us here at home.

The rest of the weekend was busy as well, On Saturday we went to the base easter egg hunt. Jacob had fun trying to see if the plastic eggs could fit in his mouth, it was rather chilly, Jacob had a hat but of course i yanked it off before photos could be taken. i learned my lesson now he and i are both sick, we are both miserable and poor daddy is doomed to get it.

Friday, we were all up early including Paolo, because we had the marvelous plan to take him to Venice with us, he has only been once to drink a coffee wiith his friend. That to me was like driving to the grand canyon to drink a hot chocolate and never exploring the sites. We arrived at the station to find out it was 2 hours till the next train OOPS!!! Guess i could have check the schedule online. so back home we went, u dont wait for soemthing for 2 hours with an infant. we stopped at a cheese store on the the way and then ended up at a pizzeria for lunch. Paolo wasent to upset mostly b/c he doesnt understand our facisnation with the sites of Italy.

Nothing else planned for the rest of Daddy stay. More blogging to follow after Easter!

A Family Fairy Tale

Once Upon a time a family that loved each other so much had to be separated, after 9months they were reunited and took off to Garmich, Germany for some much deserved family time and relaxation. Also to tour the town and sights.

On Sunday we headed north to Germany, after 5 hours we arrived at the Edelwiess Resort and Lodge. We immediatly headed for the pool, and signed up for the Neuschwanstein Castle Tour and horse and carriage ride, mostly we just wanted to spend time together talking and getting to know each other again, and most importantly JACOB TIME.

Jacob time paid off because boy did he flourish. The first night Josh was home, he went into his room to check on him, he had been fussing for awhile. Jacob was sitting up in his crib something he couldnt do before dad came home. While in Germany he also learned to get himslef on to his knees and rock back and forth, Crawling is just days away im sure.

Over the next few days we relaxed in the pool and visited the castle, known to us AMERICANS as Cinderellas castle. it is the same one pictured in the beginning of all disney movies, or at least a replica. we enjoyed good German food and a nice tour of the surrounding towns. Jacob entertained himself on the bus ride by playing with Daddy's sunglasses.

On the second day we walked the town of Garmich and ate at the PIZZA HUT, Yes an American Pizza Hut. The we took the Hrose and Carriage Ride around that evening. Here Josh got to experience the baby bjorn carrier, he wore it well! Jacob ended up falling asleep on Josh's chest for most of the ride. Boy did Dad enjoy that:)

Jacob did amazing, he didnt fuss at all until we were about 30 minutes from home.

Our trip was amazing but it's nice to be home, for the rest of Dad's time home we will putter around the house and Josh will get to see what we do day to day, Tomorrow we head to playgroup.

Love and Prayers to all- Enjoy the Photos!

He's Home

After 9 long months, Josh has fianlly arrived.

10:30 yesterday at the Venice Airport we were all there to meet him.

Diamond included.

Josh and Jacob are doing great together, thank you all so much for love and prayers along the way.

There really is a sparkel in Josh's eye when he holds Jacob close to him.

"strange"

So while we were home in the states over the holidays i kept hearing people say "he isnt strange at all" after some confusion i found out it meant he isnt afraid of stangers, and goes to pretty much everyone.

HOWEVER according to my weekly update:

Your baby may be the most sociable young creature around — until somebody unfamiliar comes near. Many babies this age have begun to show signs of fear or shyness around strangers. Some even start withdrawing from familiar relatives and friends, and want to be close to no one but you. This phase can be so brief you barely notice it, or it may last for months, depending on your child's temperament.

Baby Jacob is right on schedule, he has stayed with two people this last week that he usually loves and giggles with, but after i was gone he got fussy, and it also happened today with his regular babysitter. He jsut seems irritated and un happy. Poor guy wanted his mommy.

Bad timing since Daddy is due home this week, lets hope there is an immediate bond!