Jake loses his first tooth!

Christmas 2012

Jacob at 3 1/2 weeks

Brroks at 3 1/2 weeks old

 

Cousins together. You can tell Brooks has his mom's coloring and Jake has Josh's

Our shepard



Jake and Izzy

 

 

mommy with her shepard

 

 

 

Grandma and Jake

 

Mommy and Jake waiting for Santa at Towncenter Mall

 

Grandma and Jake

 

Christmas 2012

 

The entire group for Christmas Eve, including the dogs

 

Thompsons/Nipavers/Brantleys Christmas 2012

 

 

We had such a great time spending time with family over the Christmas Holiday. A couple of highlights......

 

Jake and the popcorn at the movie. My dad buys him popcorn and then asks if he can have some and Jake replies, "No." My dsad waits a few minutes and then asks again. To which Jake replies "No." So then Jake asks for a drink and my dad replies " I am not getting you a drink until you give me some of that popcorn first." LOL

 

Jake lost his first tooth today! It makes me feel like he is growing up so fast and no longer my baby. He was so afraid it was going to hurt but over the phone told me it didn't.

 

Some favorite toys from Santa.....Puppy Dream Lite, Lite Brite Cube, Pirate Ship, Helicopter, Horse on a stick from Grandma and Grandpa and BatCave from NaNa and Poppy.

 

Its interesting that while I was running on the treadmill one morning he asks if I was exercising to make my heart stronger so that I could have another baby. I can tell he picks up a lot that I never notice. He told my Mother in Law that his heart hurt because he was hungry.

 

He is doing well in school. He can count to 100 and write his name very legibly. He is a lot like me in personality. He wants to be included and at night when we go to bed he tells me that sometimes kids don't include him at school and laugh at him. I think some of that is just the age but it still makes me worry that that bothers him. I want to be able to protect him from his feelings getting hurt but i know that he needs to learn that he won't always be included and that he can't hit or kick back but just needs to walk away.

 

Jake is talking more and more about having a sibiling, specifically a brother so we shall see...

Thanksgiving 2012, the end of an era and a new nephew

 

 

Well this past week has been an eventful one to say the least. It started off with Thanksgiving in Rock Hill. We were able to spend time with my in laws and 2 of my 5 neices and nephews, Daylen (9 months) and Peyton (almost 2 1/2)

 

We also got to go to a Northwestern highschool playoff game. Josh and I met when he was teaching at Northwestern and coaching girls basketball there. It is always good to go back and see some of his coaching friends. It was also nice to actually sit in the stands and watch a game with him and Jake.

 

When we came back from Rock Hill we decided to put up our tree. We never do a ton of decorating or get a real tree since we are always out of town during the holidays. But its fun for Jake to decorate the tree.

 

 

 

The following week Appalachian lost to Illinois state by one point due to a blocked extra kick in OT. The very next day Coach Moore resigned after 24 years at the helm of App State football. What a sad day. Coach Moore is a great man and has done so much for Josh and I and for Appalachain State. We would not be here without him. We will see within the next week who the next head coach will be.....

 

On Friday November 30th at 7:01pm my newest nephew entered the world. Brooks Blake Brantley. He weighed 7 lbs 9.5 oz and was 20.5 inches.

 

I think he looks a lot like Christie. Its funny that since its my sisters child it will be like having a second son. We will be his only aunt and uncle, except for Stephen's sister Elizabeth. We love him so much and I can't wait for him to grow up with Jake!