Jay's first food

On Saturday we decided to give Jay his first tastes of "real food." He's about 5 1/2 months old now and it's almost time to start a steady diet of breast milk mixed with rice mush, mmmmm.... We want him to get used to the taste and texture so Saturday we gave him the chance! Check out the video and pics. Our favorite is the picture of the food all over his face. He was banging his hands up and down and hit the spoon as it was coming towards his mouth. He drenched himself with the food concoction. We're not sure how much actually got in his stomach. In the words of a wise 8 year old by the end of the feeding Jay was, "not one drop not wet!" (click on the picture to see better detail)

Jay eats

Happy birthday big brother!

Happy Birthday Cory!!!

27 wonderful things about my big brother...

1. Always sticks up for me
2. Is great at stuffed animal wars
3. "Chicks are for kids"
4. Beat me up only once - when I decided to "go out" with Ravn
5. Sticks his tongue out when he smiles for pictures
6. Taught me how to play Pinnacle
7. Lends a listening ear
8. Always let me hang out with him and his friends
9. Broke his wrist (one of many times) when a large classmate sat on him
10. Has a huge collection of baseball cards
11. Is an actuary and has a personality
12. Is part of the best three amigos group ever (along with Mikey and Amy)
13. Loves to analyze
14. Went to golf school
15. Sings the best rendition of "This is Your Song"
16. Literally the best big brother ever (just ask our parents)
17. Has been called handsome/hot/cute/guapo by any and all who meet him
18. Introduced me to "The Office"
19. Great at any sport he plays
20. Gives great advice
21. Fiercely loves his friends and family
22. Hates ants with a passion (and all other creepy crawlies)
23. Smartest guy I know
24. Owns his own bowling ball and shoes
25. Idolizes Kermit the Frog
26. Played Papa Gui in "Once On This Island"
27. He's my hero

p.s. thanks for the idea Leslie :)

Starfish Hands

Fairy tale lands and starfish hands
Plump little cheeks and counting by weeks
Onsies piled high and a soft milky sigh
The world is fine and grand as I hold your little hand

Gazing blue eyes and sweet lullabies
Afternoon strolls and chubby fat rolls
Gurgles of delight and Dr. Seuss at night
The world is fine and grand as I hold your little hand

Tiny little toes and a perfect button nose
Small sleepy yawns and waking up at dawn
Tummy time play and smiles that light the day
The world is fine and grand as I hold your little hand

Futbol? No FOOTball.

Yesterday was Dia de Andalucia... a day to celebrate the region of Spain that we live in. Strangly enough though, yesterday was one of the most American days we've had here! Mike came home early from work for a long awaited opportunity to play football - American style. He, three sets of missionaries and a few members from the ward had a great time playing a mostly offensive game of football. It was a beautiful day outside, around 75 degrees (sorry to everyone who's getting a second dose of winter in the states). Now I'm sure you're probably wondering why there are no pictures of the football game? Well, that would be because when Anna went over to the field to see the boys play she couldn't get Jay's stroller through the huge metal gate, nor could she budge the gate even a little. So sad! She did manage to get Jay in his BYU shirt though. When football games are going on we have to represent - especially because one of the Elders is actually a Utah fan! Ugh!!!! Of course when we mentioned to him that we don't feed Utah fans in our house he showed his true blue colors :) After the game everyone came over to our house for an old fashioned, American BBQ. Well... that was the plan anyway. Everyone came, but when we turned on our brand new BBQ, flames came shooting out the adjuster knobs! Apparently there's a leak somewhere that causes exploding flames when the BBQ is lit. Sooooo we ended up grilling inside on griddles instead. We had a great time and about 20 people came all together. A sweet girl in our branch even told me it was the best Dia de Andalucia she's ever had! Well we certainly enjoyed it.

These boots are made for walkin'

Meema Jill sent Jay some awesome cowboy boots for Valentines Day. As usual, she was thinking about tradition. Mike had some cowboy boots of his own that he loved when he was a little boy and Jill wanted Jay to have some too. Mike's boots now sit on our dresser along with some beloved red shoes of Anna's. We decided that even though the boots are still a little too big for Jay to wear, he needed to test them out. Trying the boots on resulted in yet another photo shoot... in the words of the Valentine card accompanying the boots Jay has "up 'n' made off with my heart!"

Baby Jay's First "Word"

Mike must be whispering in his ear at night...