See Jack {mid November 2012}

This is an ongoing series of videos that I am sharing so that our extended family can keep up with how Jack is growing and changing in these early years.

See Jack "talk" on the "phone" – anything is a phone these days, even a thermometer.

{mid November}

 See Jack clap for himself. He is so proud each time he does something new.
{mid November}

See Jack "practice" yoga. He is great at imitating the things we do.

{mid November}

See Jack's initial reaction to cow's milk. Two months later, he drinks without a problem.

Our solution: feed him chili and peanut butter sandwiches {not together}. 

Milk tastes good {even to a baby} when paired with these kinds of food. 

{mid November}

See Jack eat turkey for the first time.

{Thanksgiving Day} 

2012 Book 28: Alice in Wonderland

The last book that I read in 2012 was the classic Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. I guess I never read the book growing up, though I watched the movie many times. The book is seriously trippy {is that a word?}. The movie makes sense, kind of. But the book. Wow. I didn't really get it at all until the very end. The last page made it come together. As much as it was going to come together.

Some excerpts from the book: 

'I know who I WAS when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.'

'Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?' 

'That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,' said the Cat. 

'I don't much care where--' said Alice. 

'Then it doesn't matter which way you go,' said the Cat. '--so long as I get somewhere,' Alice added as an explanation. 'Oh, you're sure to do that,' said the Cat, 'if you only walk long enough.'

"Never imagine yourself not to be otherwise than what it might appear to others that what you were or might have been was not otherwise than what you had been would have appeared to them to be otherwise."

...she pictured to herself how this same little sister of hers would, in the after-time, be herself a grown woman; and how she would keep, through all her riper years, the simple and loving heart of her childhood: and how she would gather about her other little children, and make THEIR eyes bright and eager with many a strange tale, perhaps even with the dream of Wonderland of long ago: and how she would feel with all their simple sorrows, and find a pleasure in all their simple joys, remembering her own child-life, and the happy summer days...

----------------------------------------------------------------------

So I didn't make it to my goal of 52 books in 2012 {first time in about 5 years to not make this goal}. However I am still happy that even with a crazy year, I still managed to read 2+ books a month. Not too shabby for this new mama. Though technically if I count all of the children's book I have read to Jack in the past year, I would be closer/past the 52 mark. 

My favorite kids books from 2012 include: Bear Snores On, Little Blue Truck, Trucks Go, and Over in the Meadow. I am a huge fan of children's books that are written in such a way that they are fun to read aloud. They are more like poetry than just words on a page. I love the rhythm to the words and I especially love it when they tell a good story. Jack loves when I add voices and sounds to support the story. Reading aloud to my boy brings me great joy.

In 2013 I am going to continue reading, but I am not shooting for any specific goal. I will write a monthly recap of any books I do manage to read, but I am not holding myself to any kind of schedule or lofty goal.

What are you reading this year? I would love to hear your recommendations for good books that you are into.

First Haircut

Over Christmas break, Jack hit a big milestone: We had his hair cut for the first time. 

For the last several months we had been feeling like we needed to take Jack to the barber. We were even tempted to give his bangs a trim at home, but weren't confident in our abilities.

December was so crazy that we couldn't seem to find a moment to take him to the barber. But while visiting my parents during Christmas, Daniel decided that enough was enough and he found a barber shop in Searcy with good reviews online.

Jack is such a laid back kid that we weren't overly concerned about the experience. But I was glad that there was a little boy getting his hair cut when we walked in the doors. Jack was able to observe before we stuck him in the barber chair.

He did so well. Mostly he was curious about what the barber was doing to him. He kept trying to swivel his head around to see what was going on.

Toward the beginning he did get a little frustrated at having a cape draped around him, but getting to hold on to some race cars cured him of his frustration.

Bruce at Race Cuts did an excellent job with our son. We are so glad this was a good experience for all of us.

No more ladies in the grocery store telling us they love our "daughter's" curls!

I kind of miss the curls though!

Christmas, Part II

This year was a little abnormal when it came to our Christmas traveling. Typically my parents would come to Nashville to celebrate a big holiday with us. But this year, some family circumstances prevented that from occurring. So we decided to make the trek over to Searcy instead.

We spent Christmas day with my brother and sister and her family, with plans for all of us to head to Searcy at the end of the week, after my sister finished her nursing shifts.

Then on Christmas day, Arkansas was hit by a pretty big snow storm. I believe there were actually "blizzard" warnings for parts of the state. My parents received about 6" of snow and many were without power in central Arkansas.

Since we weren't headed to their house for another day, we decided to see how things played out. In the end, my brother decided to hitch a ride with Daniel, Jack and I. On the other hand, Angela and her family decided that with the weather conditions and recent sickness, it was too much for them to try to go this year. They were certainly missed!

Once in Searcy, we found that the roads were in pretty good shape and thankfully my parents still had power.

Jack got to experience his first snow and Grandpa Voyles even pulled out a toboggan for a little "sledding." He also spent the weekend practicing/showing off his newly acquired walking skills for everyone.

We enjoyed visiting with my folks. Everyday we also drove over to my Grandma's house to spend some time with her – she fell back in September and has been confined to a bed ever since.

We were also able to visit my uncle Keith in the hospital – he had a heart attack the day after Christmas. He is home now recovering. We are thankful we were able to see him.

Daniel and I managed to sneak in a date night; we also had breakfast at Bobby's; and we even squeezed in Jack's first hair cut.

 
I am so thankful we were able to spend some time with my parents, even if the weather wasn't what we expected.

Outdoor Adventures | 2012 edition

With a new baby, 2012 was light on adventures. October was a busy month as we got in a groove, but the rest of the year was lacking.

April
First Hike with Jack at Monte Sano Park | Huntsville, AL

May
Racoon Mountain Round the Rim 5k | Chattanooga, TN
Monte Sano Part II | Huntsville, AL

September
Waterfall Trail to Hemlock Falls | Cloudland Canyon State Park, GA 

October
Incline Railway | Lookout Mountain, TN
Paddling Lake Guntersville | Scottsboro, AL
Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll | Huntsville, AL
Northwest Georgia Canoeing - Jack's first paddling excursion | Ellijay, GA
Highest Point in Georgia | Brasstown Bald, GA
Amicalola Falls | Amicalola State Park, GA

Word for the Year: Deliberate

Happy New Year from the Moores!

I am a bit behind on my blogging – okay, a LOT behind. December was a truly insane month for me. Not including normal driving, I managed to log 3,294 miles. According to Google maps I spent 52 hours in the car. I'm sure with a toddler in tow it was much longer. I am ready for a break.

I hope to catch up on my blogging, but getting my house in order and wrapping up a freelance project are my main focus right now. Bear with me, I know many family members are anxious to see pics from all of our travels.

For the past several years, instead of writing resolutions on January 1st, I have focused on choosing a word that would represent a theme for the coming year. I like this tradition better than making resolutions that I know that I will struggle to keep.

I am a few days behind, but the word that I would like to focus on in 2013 is deliberate:

carefully weighed; studied; intentional; unhurried: to consider; to think carefully or attentively; or to reflect

I don't regret all of the things we did this past year, but I feel an intense need to slow down. To be in the present. This last year I experienced the loss of a grandfather and a grandfather figure, as well as a friend. I think loss of any kind makes you want to slow down. Likewise, the insane traveling of December is enough to make anyone {besides a travel-happy college student} want to slow down. 

I used to feel out of sorts if I didn't keep up with my emails; or my Google Reader; or if I didn't blog often; or read a book once a week... I am letting it all go. 

The past month has forced me to be more intentional and I haven't regretted slowing down. 

Jack needs my attention. He is walking now. He gives tight hugs around the neck when you ask him. He chatters away, mostly recently he loves to shout: Cee. We're pretty sure he is saying my name. I don't want to miss these sweet moments with my boy or my family because of TV or the internet or things that are unimportant. I want to be deliberate about my life. 

Words from previous years: 

Fortitude {2010}  ~ Adaptation {2011} ~ Patience {2012}

Books I Read in 2012

For the last several years, I have been making the effort to read one book each week for a total of 52 books. In 2012, I only made it to 28... not too terrible for a new, full-time mom. Below is the full list of books that I read in 2012. If you are interested, here are my lists for 2009, 2010 and 2011.

January -- a strong start with 5 books read

1) The Secret Garden
2) Catching Fire
3) Heaven is For Real
4) Shanghai Girls
5) The Post Mistress

Febuary

6) Mockingjay
7) Fairy Tales Every Child Should Know
8) Common Sense

March

9) The Long Run
10) Latitude 38
11) The Imortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

April

12) Deedee Divine's Totally Skewed Guide to Life
13) The Pig in the Pantry
14) Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

May

15) The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (#3)
16) Handle with Prayer
17) Baby Led Weaning

June

18) The Girl Who Came Home

July

19) The Last Explorer

August

20) The Plains of Abraham

September

21) Lost in Shangri-La
22) How to Become an American Housewife
23) On Becoming Babywise II

October

24) Wrecked

November

25) Anne of Avonlea
26) Anne of the Island
27) Brain Rules for Baby

December 

28) Alice in Wonderland