The Bouse Family

New Location

2010-10-25T21:39:00.003-04:00

This will be the last post here on the blog that has served us well since Jack came into the world.

We would love it if you would follow along on our new adventures as we move to Oklahoma and add another baby to the family.

Check out the new blog: bousehouse.posterous.com

Moving On

2010-10-14T21:17:00.004-04:00

Hey everybody. So, life's been busy. In case you weren't aware, we are moving to Oklahoma! In just a few weeks we are heading to Edmond, Oklahoma. I (adam) am taking a new job at YouVersion.com. And if that weren't enough, we are going to be having another baby in May! Exciting times in the Bouse House.

Because of our new life adventures, we are going to start fresh and clean with a new blog. So, this post and maybe another before we will officially switch over. We will post links here and on Facebook so everybody can follow along as we head west.

For now, I'm going to include a video of Jack playing in the leaves today:

Jack in the Leaves from Adam Bouse on Vimeo.

Jack is Two!

2010-09-04T16:42:00.007-04:00

Well, we officially have a 2 year-old!

Jack turned two a few weeks ago - and boy is he two!

Here are some pictures of the fun from the past few weeks.

Not on his birthday, but this is a fun picture of Jack and his friends Aaron and Lincoln.

The homemade birthday cake.

And the most fun part, the presents!

This kid was excited about his new trike!

From a few days earlier, he loves his car tower from the Colorado Smiths.

Eating cake and ice cream on his new Super Why plate.

Pictures with all of the grandparents (even if Jack didn't want to pay attention).

And all of this just a few weeks after Stacey and I celebrated 5 years of marriage!

We are certainly a lucky family.

Short Video from the Beach

2010-07-26T22:09:00.002-04:00

It really is not a very interesting video, but it's the best we've got. Because of the humidity and salt water, we weren't able to shoot much video. But nonetheless, here is Jack arriving at the beach and seeing the ocean for the very first time:

A Trip to the Beach from Adam Bouse on Vimeo.

Pictures from the Beach

2010-07-18T20:23:00.005-04:00

Here are some more pictures from our trip to the beach.

Overall, a great success and loads of fun.

Jack is now part of the 5th generation from my dad's side of the family to visit Holden Beach, North Carolina.

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The big story of the week is that Jack has mastered hurling himself out of his pack-n-play. From day one, he thought it was hilarious to jump out. So, we had to transition him to sleeping in a real bed every nap and every night. Every morning began, promptly at 6:30, with a "thud" and a scamper - followed by a "mommy! daddy!" from about four inches away.

Jack discovered he could fit under the cabinets.

He used it as a place to escape once he swiped pancakes off the counter.

He loved playing in the water - especially the hose.

Here's the ridiculous hat we made him wear for a few days. He loved to dig in the sand.

Walking across the beach with Grandpa Roundtree.

He loved to shove things into the sand.

And he wasn't afraid of the water. He kept calling it "pool."

Doing dishes with grandma one morning.

We took a kiddie pool so he could play on the deck.

And we tried to take a family picture - but he is so easily distracted.

And our camera was uber-sensitive to the moisture and only worked half the time.

I'll try to post a few videos soon.

Hello from the Beach!

2010-07-12T21:12:00.003-04:00

Just a quick update from Holden Beach, North Carolina.

Jack loves playing outside - in the sand and the waves - with Grandma and Grandpa Roundtree.

More pictures to come. Life is good at the beach.

Into the Woods

2010-05-29T17:20:00.001-04:00

We enjoyed a beautiful morning at Mounds State Park this morning. This was Jack's first hike in the woods and he certainly loved to run the trails and watch the river.

Just a short, random video from the day:

Jack at Mounds from Adam Bouse on Vimeo.

Video Update

2010-05-17T15:45:00.004-04:00

It's been a while since we've seen Jack in moving pictures here. So, a little montage of Jack lately. Some special shout-outs to all the grandparents, as well as all the Smiths of Colorado.

A Little Montage of Lately from Adam Bouse on Vimeo.

Spring Update

2010-05-08T14:33:00.020-04:00

The Bouses have been busy this past month! (Apologies for not updating the blog sooner.) Things are in full swing with Adam at Conner Prairie. I (Stacey) started working part-time at the beginning of April, so Jack and I have been adjusting to our new schedule. Jack also started going to a new daycare, which he has been loving, and he has been enjoying/tolerating storytime with me. He's also talking a lot more these days - favorite words are "outside" & "Beth" (our neighbor). He tries to say "cup" but it's comes out "puh", and he's mastering "milk" and "book", but the K sound comes out really funny-sort of sounds like he's speaking Hebrew. I'll have to get it on video sometime :) Here are some cute photos of Jack from the past month or so.

Adam bought Jack a tee ball set

Jack doesn't get it quite yet

We had a family trip to the Muncie Children's Museum

And to the library (can't you tell??) Jack was really excited about the vending machines, stopped, and said "Cheese!"

Just being cute & silly at home

I love it when Jack puts on sunglasses. So freakin' cute! Even if they are upside down :)

Enjoying breakfast with mommy - eating out of the frying pan he brought from the kitchen. (I have to be creative & flexible sometimes...this staying-at-home stuff is an adjustment for me, too!)

Jack has also figured out crafty ways to get to things on the countertops (like Daddy's homemade strawberry-rhubarb pie.) Here he has opened the cabinet and pulled out the bottom drawer to stand on. Crafty.

After just a few weeks of this part-time business, I got to go away for a Girls' Weekend with these beautiful ladies. (Beth, Carolyn and Darbi) Carolyn's folks have a little cottage near Lake Michigan, so we were able to go there and relax for a few days. It. was. awesome. We ate tons of junk food and watched a few chick flicks. Most of Saturday was spent touring open houses of cottages for sale. Well, not just "cottages" - $3 million Lake-front homes! Fun fun fun!

(There's the Lake!)

We are Alive

2010-04-10T12:57:00.004-04:00

How about some pictures?

This is Jack and his cousin Oliver hanging out at their grandparents house.

This is Jack in his first blanket-tent.

One night, we discovered that Jack decided to take off his own pajamas before falling asleep.

And now for the Easter montage.

Jack and Laughter

2010-02-20T10:18:00.001-05:00

Jack's Fake Laugh from Adam Bouse on Vimeo.

First Snow

2010-02-15T11:19:00.002-05:00

Last week, Jack headed out to play in the snow for the first time. We ended up getting a little more than a foot of the white stuff. Jack didn't love it, but he didn't hate it either. Being really cold mixed with wearing 17 layers and mittens makes for an even less coordinated 18-month-old than usual.

Jack in the Snow from Adam Bouse on Vimeo.

Such a Fun Little Guy

2010-02-05T10:57:00.006-05:00

Nothing special here - just "working" from home today. So I thought I'd post something.

Here's a fun little video of Jack playing with the Wii. He has no idea what he is doing, but he loves to wave the remote and yell, 'Go!

And here he is hiding around the corner. Just cute.

Any Resemblance?

2010-01-17T17:16:00.002-05:00

I came across these pictures when sorting my online photo album. They popped up together and it's hilarious how the facial expression is the exact same! 26 years apart, I have a mini-me.

Redesign and Random Pictures

2010-01-16T10:59:00.001-05:00

So, we've redesigned and renamed the blog. Jack is no longer a baby - quite the toddler now. We are going to do better in 2010 at staying up on the blog posts and letting all of our family and friends know what is going on in our lives. So, to start of - here are some random pictures to catch up from Christmas and whatnot.

Stacey got a fancy new haircut and some stylish new glasses around the New Year. And Jack has grown into a little camera-monger. He hardly lets us take pictures because he just wants to have the camera in his hands at all times.

A family photo on Christmas morning.

Like father, like son.

This is Jack pondering the fluffy white stuff on the ground.

He has still yet to play in the snow, but soon...very soon.

Jack did get a vacuum for Christmas.

He loves to sweep all the time - especially when we are.

(Also, father/son are wearing Purdue shirts. Boiler up!)

This kid sleeps in some pretty bizarre positions.

We checked in on him and found him like this around 10:30 one night.

For a day at least, he was attached to his blanket.

He wanted to have it for dinner especially.

Three things he loves: saying "dye-dye" (meaning bye-bye), waving, and grabbing the camera.

Dinner with Jack

2010-01-06T23:51:00.001-05:00

New Video Camera

2009-12-31T16:33:00.003-05:00

We received a fancy new Flip video camera for Christmas. This should not only improve the quality of the videos we post, but more importantly, the frequency!

And let's be honest - pictures can't contain the story of Jack anymore. Sure, we'll still take them (when he isn't looking - because he just wants to play with the camera). But there is so much to hear and experience with him every day that you just have to see the action to believe it.

So, here's to 2010 - the year of more posts and plenty of videos!

Autumn Update

2009-11-20T20:17:00.008-05:00

Whelp, another few months have passed, and our Little Man is keeping busy. He'll be 16 months old next week - wild! So here are some photos to recap his life in Muncie:

playing in the autumn leaves

helping Mommy in the kitchen

and "helping" Mommy move things out of the kitchen

Halloween (our little dragon wasn't feeling very well)

finally starting to set his cup down, rather than throwing it across the room when finished with it

and starting to feed himself with a spoon!

well, sort of...

Fall Fun

2009-10-24T10:35:00.007-04:00

Believe it or not, I'm actually posting before another three months has passed. With the changing seasons comes lots of outside fun and great pictures.

But first, another "first" in Jack's life. His first Haircut! Now, given that he has to contend with genetics, he's still struggling to get a full head of hair - but on the back side of his head, he is pulling off a Ben Franklin look quite well. So, we decided to give him a bit of a trim.

Happy Jack. He probably thinks he's getting ready to eat.

Definitely in need of a trim.

Not so happy Jack. He was disappointed it didn't come with graham crackers.

And the first cut...

Now for a brief assortment of pictures from around the house.

This is Jack and his betrothed, Caroline Wallace.
They are a few weeks apart.

This is Jack contemplating what to do with the strainer.

And deciding.

He was feeling particularly photogenic this day - so we obliged him.
And took a walk too, because it was a gorgeous day (especially with the changing leaves).

We ended up taking a walk to the park with our neighbors, the Buehlers.

We hope to make it to a pumpkin patch later today.
And with Halloween next week, I'm sure there will be more pictures to come soon.

Photo Contest

2009-10-20T14:24:00.012-04:00

I've entered Jack in a baby photo contest through the Muncie Star Press. He needs lots of votes now, so follow this link and vote vote vote! muncie.thestarpress.com/baby/ Jack is contestant #434, on page 4 of the entries. Votes do cost $0.25 per vote (so have your credit card ready) and voting lasts through November 6. Thanks for supporting this adorable kiddo!!

A Pattern of Silence

2009-10-05T19:45:00.006-04:00

At the behest of one Stephanie Smith (and my conscience), we've got a blog post here.

Life has been crazy, busy, and crazy. I guess that's what happens with a one-year-old.

So, here are some photos to tide everybody over until the next month passes and I haven't posted again.

Jack LOVES to play tug-o-war with daisy. He laughs and laughs - and for now, she wins every time.

Mama Bouse and her baby boy. We love the Colts.

Jack (and Stacey's) first balloon flight.

One of Jack's first bouts with spaghetti. He's a crazy eater.

And a crazy face-maker.

But he has started to love trucks. And even makes the appropriate vrooming noises. He's all boy.

Happy Birthday!

2009-08-24T19:58:00.007-04:00

Jack is officially a one-year old!

Here are the highlights of his first birthday.
He was loads of fun.

And while it is hard to believe a year has past already, we are quite sure he won't slow down to let us relish it. The next year will bring more words, more teeth, more diapers, and certainly, more joys.

His first presents came from the folks in Colorado. Like most of his presents, he showed inconsistent interest - but he definitely loves it all when he remembers how to play with every

This was Jack's first taste of ice cream. It shocked him at how cold it was - so he spit it into his hand, and then right back in his mouth. He's probably hooked. We did this on Friday, his actual birthday, when some friends came over to cook out and celebrate the little guy.

A birthday family picture.

The cake situation:

Stacey and I made this cake (a Martha Stewart recipe).
Jack likes Monkeys and we thought it was pretty cute.

And then it was show time - time to dive into the cake!

Thanks to everyone who came and joined the celebration. Thanks for the gifts, the love, and the support through the first year. Here's to many more!

Rocky Mountain High

2009-07-27T09:47:00.008-04:00

Jack took his first plane trip and his first trip to the great state of Colorado. It was a great vacation and it was especially good to spend time with Stacey's brother and family. For those of you who don't know them, Jeff and Steph moved to Colorado two summers ago and have two kids - Avery (4) and Oliver (two weeks younger than Jack).

This is us arriving at the airport.

Jack did just fine waiting for the airplane.

Jack had the window seat - and seemed moderately interested in what was going on.

Thankfully, this was what the first hour-plus looked like in the Bouse row.

On our first day, we headed to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs. Steph bought an awesome double stroller that increased the likelihood Jack and Oliver would be mistaken for twins.

Avery loved feeding the giraffes.

During the week, Jack and Oliver loved playing with the same toys, at the same time. One morning, they posed on the firetruck in their pajamas. Pretty adorable.

Jeff and Steph have a little pool that the kids loved to play in.

All three kids in the pool - Oliver having a ball.

Jack and Oliver love the pool because of the freedom they get - they can cruise around, fall, splash water. It's really the best of all possibilities for them.

Oliver stopped to pose for a moment.

This perfectly captures at least half of Jack's time in the pool - trying to drink the water.

Again, this kid loves to stick his tongue out - like a little puppy dog.

On Tuesday, Stacey and I headed out to Breckinridge for the night.
A great ski-town, we didn't do much other than enjoy the scenery.

This is the view from our table for dinner.

On the next day, on the way back, we stopped at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater. Beautiful.
And if anyone wants to buy us plane and concert tickets, we'd love to see a show there.

All-in-all, a great time. I'll post some videos of the trip soon.
And if you didnt' see it, look at the previous post for the video of Jack walking for the first time.

One Little Step for Jack...

2009-07-26T22:19:00.003-04:00

Here's the video proof: Jack has started walking.

This is literally just seconds after he did it for the first time.
It took place on Monday, June 20 - the day before he turned 11 months.
And he got better over the course of the week. Getting braver and more excited.

I'll post pictures from our family trip to Colorado tomorrow.
Summary preview: loads of fun.

Quick Update

2009-07-24T16:59:00.001-04:00

For those of you who either don't follow Adam's Twitter or Facebook feeds, we are currently on vacation in Colorado. And it must be the higher alititude.....

Jack took his first steps!!!!!

We'll upload the video when we get back to Indiana.
Pretty stinking fun and exciting!

Jack, the Destroyer

2009-07-13T19:59:00.005-04:00

Jack loves to destroy towers. Any time he sees a block tower build up, he crawls right over with a smile on his face and tears it down.

We also think he's starting to say Daisy. It really sounds more like "Day-thd." We'll try to catch it on video so you can hear.

He can't wait to walk - getting more and more courageous to stand free of the table or couch. And just another month (+ a few days) to his first birthday! Here are a few pictures from the past week or so.

And We're Back....

2009-07-02T19:53:00.008-04:00

So, we've been busy. And we went without internet at home for a little more than two weeks.
So, without a June update - not a single one - we've got some serious ground to make up. And I'll do it all in one post. Make sure you've got some time.

At the beginning of June, Stacey's brother (Jeff) and family (Steph, Avery, and Oliver) came for a visit. It was great to see them and watch the cousins play. Jack and Oliver (just a few weeks apart in age) got matching clothes from Grandma Smith. They even took a bath together. What fun!

(I think Oliver looks like a little body-builder in this picture)

Good buddies. They really could be twins.

Jack has developed this love for letting his tongue hangout of his mouth all the time. He's such a smiley, happy kid. He crawls like a demon, he's cruising around tables and couches, and has started attempting to let go of things when he's standing. And he likes to swing, too.

He's also experienced his first time in the swimming pool. We should have known how he'd do based on his fervent love for bath time. A few times we put him in with trunks on, then we tried his "wet suit" with floaties built in. My mom has a boat for Jack to sit/float in. He is ridiculously adorable in the pool - he just can't get enough. The video doesn't do justice to his joy.

The video:

He's starting to like having books read to him. And he loves falling asleep. Yeah, he's definitely my kid. And to prove it, I'm training him on how to wear a hat - my Notre Dame hat.

We'll try to do better - things at work are slower and his first birthday is approaching. Time to get excited!

A Laugh to Make You Melt

2009-05-27T17:25:00.005-04:00

Hey, just two pictures and two videos to share. But first...

In other news, Jack may have said his first word yesterday.

Stacey had opened his door in the morning, opened the window shade, and headed down to make his bottle for breakfast. I got up, walked into his room and he said: "Dada." No more, no less. Now, he has been saying "dadadada" and "mamamama" a lot. But he may actually know what he is talking about now. We are tentatively thinking he does. More testing is required.

He popped out a third tooth, so the drooling is back in full force. But he stopped spewing constantly - that is a trade-off I'm willing to take.

Alright, pictures. Stacey bought him a new hat the other day. Pretty sweet.

And two videos. The first one is from mid-April. The second, what amazing laughter!, is from about two weeks ago.

Way Too Long

2009-05-17T09:11:00.007-04:00

It has been way too long since we last posted - sorry!
Let's catch up - prepare yourself for an explosion of photos and videos:

_____________________________________________

He's standing, crawling, pulling himself up - basically, Jack is everywhere! His little knees have been red for a while because this kid loves to keep on the move.

It's finally gotten warm enough for Jack to wear shorts. It didn't stay that way, but since he is naturally hot, he really enjoyed getting to shed some layers.

Not only does he like to crawl, he likes to climb. He flipped over this basket and the climbed on top of it. It gave him lay of the land and instant access to toys spread all around him.

At the end of April, some of Stacey's family came to visit from Colorado. Jack's Aunt Stephanie, and cousins Avery and Oliver made the trip. Oliver is just two weeks younger than Jack. See any family resemblance?

Time for a photo essay: At this point, Jack seemed to want to be ahead in the crawling race, so he chased Oliver down.

And slugged him a good one! (not really, but the randomly captured photo makes it look like that)

Here is Oliver, Aaron (Jack's best friend from across the street), and Jack lounging around the living room.

And of course, Avery loved to hang out with Jack.

He was so tired from playing with friends and cousins all week. Clearly, he was ready for bed.

Here's a picture from Mother's Day - Stacey's first!

And then, just some cute pictus of Jack in action around the house.

The Proof is in the Pudding

2009-04-17T18:40:00.004-04:00

Jack is definitely crawling - it's not a judgment call, it's a fact.

However, it's hard to catch him crawling a sizable distance. So, these videos aren't long. I had to keep cutting off for one of two reasons:

a) he was about to grab something he shouldn't (can you say babyproof?)
b) every time I say 'come here', the dog comes pouncing in

But our kid is definitely crawling. It's a whole new world.

Oh Boy!!!!

2009-04-16T21:12:00.001-04:00

Jack is crawling!!!!!!!!!!!!

Video to come soon - maybe even tomorrow.

It's a bit wonky and belabored - but he is definitely crawling!

Easter!

2009-04-13T13:42:00.005-04:00

Move Videos

2009-04-06T17:11:00.005-04:00

Video #1

Jack loves to jump. Whether he is in a jumper or not, the kid loves to jump. And recently, he started picking his feet up after jumping in his freestanding jumper - it's almost like a ride for him. Pretty hilarious. (note: it looks like he isn't wearing anything below the waist, but he is - promise).

Video #2

Jack also has an amazing laugh. He's ticklish (of course he is - he's a Bouse baby). And it just makes you melt to listen to him laugh. Love that kid!

Waking Up From a Nap

2009-03-30T13:55:00.003-04:00

Here's a video of Jack waking up from his nap today.

Crawling, cruising, and baby gates are just around the corner.

Rub a Dub Dub...

2009-03-08T19:43:00.002-04:00

... Jack is in the tub.

More Firsts

2009-03-04T20:31:00.004-05:00

Well, we don't have pictures to prove it, but........ Jack has his first TWO teeth!
And he still desperately wants to crawl.

Last night, during small group, he was sitting in his jumper and it was fairly close to bed time. He just stood there sort of dazed as people awed over him. And a few of us waved at him. Just then....he waved back. Now, this isn't a parental delusion, where we just wanted it to be a wave. It was controlled, repeated, and deliberate. It was adorable.

He's getting better at sitting up. And he continues to explore the food world - peas, carrots, green beans, squash, pears - he's a big eater!

Here are a few photos and a video to tide you over to your next visit.

And We're Back...

2009-02-16T12:46:00.007-05:00

Time to catch up. Jack is getting big, big, big. And he will be 6 months old on Saturday!!!
Some recent milestones include:

His first veggies.
His second trip out of the state.
He attended his first birthday party.
He had his second double ear infection.
His first weekend alone with just dad.
His first solo trip across the room by rolling over and over and over again.
His first Super Bowl.

This pictures shows the Smith in him - sleeping with his hands up.
Occasionally, he'll sleep with his hand on his forehead - just like mom and Grandpa Smith.

Stacey went to Colorado for a weekend, to visit her brother and family.
So, we had a bachelor's weekend that started with arm wrestling.
Later that night, the furnace went out and it hit 50 degrees.
Not a great start, but we survived the weekend - capped with his first Super Bowl party.

Here, Jack is getting his first taste of vegetables!
We started out with green beans (of the baby variety of course).
He loved them and has moved on to include peas too!
Maybe we'll try squash this week.

Two videos here: The first is his inaugural attempt at veggies. When he's in the mood, he'll eat like there's no tomorrow. The unfortunate thing is, when he doesn't want any more, with no warnings, he'll just start doing raspberries (buzzing his lips). It's a very clear message and we learned what it meant rather quickly.

The second is his gallant efforts at crawling. It's so funny to walk with just start shaking and flapping every limb in an effort to move forward. One day, he just rolled all the way across the room. He'll get there soon enough.

Alive

2009-02-08T22:26:00.002-05:00

We are alive.
And we have pictures and videos to post.
Just no time.

I'll do my best to get some up midweek.
Sorry for the lag.

Classic Jack, Bundled Jack

2009-01-16T22:53:00.002-05:00

In case anyone wasn't aware, it's been frightfully cold here in Indiana. When we headed out to a friends house last night we bundled Jack up. The first picture will help you understand how cold - the rest are baby contest worthy.

Way Too Long

2009-01-15T17:30:00.004-05:00

I just realized that it has been WAY too long since our last update. Going back to work after the holidays kept us busy, the Colts losing left us depressed, and we tackled Jack's first.......double ear infection!

He's back to his old smiley self now and he is getting bigger and awesome-r every day.
We don't have a ton of cute photos from the last two or three weeks, but we do have a picture of his ear-infection-induced fat face (from drainage).

Okay, on to the cute pictures...

Coming soon....pictures of Jack playing with his feet. He found his toes!

A Few More Chirstmas and Then A Jack First.......

2008-12-29T21:30:00.005-05:00

So, here are a few more pictures from Christmas. First, a special pair of pants, his first ride in a Johnny-Jump-Up, and then a Christmas nap.

And now, Jack's first venture into 'solids.' This boy is ready for more calories and that means it's time to introduce rice cereal. So, tonight, Jack got his first taste from a spoon. (Wasn't he just born the other day?!)

Ho Ho Ho!

2008-12-25T21:55:00.004-05:00

Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good night!

Christmas Time is Here

2008-12-17T22:02:00.005-05:00

Jack is now fully into his first Christmas season. Lots of traveling in the next 10 days....

We'll do our best to get some great bow-on-the-head, sitting-in-a-box type pictures. We have a special outfit for him that demands a special photo shoot (and with a secret guest cameo!). That'll come in the next few days.

For now, a few cute pictures of this little guy who's getting bigger by the day. And our perfect, real Christmas tree.

As Promised....

2008-12-11T05:46:00.002-05:00

Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'

2008-12-06T22:34:00.004-05:00

Jack has started rolling over!!!

On Thursday night, he rolled from front-to-back ... twice!
And tonight, Saturday, he rolled from back-to-front ... twice!

We'll try to catch it on video sometime. It's stinkin' hilarious to watch him literally throw his legs trying to get some momentum!

Into the Holidays

2008-11-30T18:02:00.006-05:00

Well, time for an update. It's been a busy two weeks, even though I (Adam) have been off work for the last week. Jack has been going through his first cold, which is no fun at all. Stacey has been sick - probably the one who gave it to him (kidding).

Anyway, he's getting bigger, stronger, and cuter than ever. Just the other day he was sitting on his bouncy seat and ripped on of the Velcro-ed animals off his play bar - twice!

I sort of think he looks like a super-hero in this one, as if he were flying.
Nevermind the drool.

Here's Jack on Thanksgiving morning.

He had a pleasant first Turkey day, getting all dressed up and
watching the parade with mom while dad played football.

Family photo time.

He had his Thanksgiving dinner. He was watching football.
And then he fell asleep on the couch. Yeah, I think he understands Thanksgiving.

On Saturday, we headed out to a Christmas tree farm to get Jack his first tree.

This was also his first excursion in one of his snowsuits.

He was being a typical infant and didn't want to help cut it down,
so I did it myself.

We decorated the tree and living room yesterday. We need to get him his first stocking and a Santa suit so he can drive his reindeer (our dog). We'll post that picture as soon as it happens.

Fall Delight

2008-11-12T17:04:00.003-05:00

Time for some more pictures. Jack loves football. And it turns out, he loves walks too. With the beautiful weather we've had, Stacey took him for a walk with a hilarious result.
-------------------

Here they are before the walk.

Here they are after the walk.

And here is some quality father-son time during football.

I think this picture shows the beginning of a revelation. "Hmm...oh...oh yeah. Yeah, now I get it. That's cool."

End of the Month

2008-11-02T13:14:00.008-05:00

Well, October has come and gone and Jack is 10 weeks old now! He's enjoyed his first bonfire, his first Charlie Brown TV special, and his first Halloween. Here are some odds-and-ends pictures (and a video) from the end of the month.

He has neck muscles now!

Check out those dimples!

This is Jack and his cousin, Oliver. They are just two weeks apart.
Stacey's brother and family came for a visit.

Get it? He's a Jack-0-lantern. A JACK-o-lantern!

This video is entirely too long, but there's definitely some cute stuff here.

Another Bouncy-Seat-Photo-Shoot

2008-10-25T16:31:00.003-04:00

Jack was in a good mood one morning, so I took some more photos....Isn't he freakin' adorable?

A Weekend of Firsts

2008-10-13T14:03:00.005-04:00

Over the weekend, Jack had his first road trip, his first night(s) somewhere other than home, and his first time to see his family in Kentucky.

Stacey, Jack, and I headed down to Kentucky to show of our boy and to put together the five living generations on my dad's side. My Great-Grandma Weston (the reason for Jack's middle name) just turned 95 last month. She has 42 living, direct descendants - that is pretty amazing. Jack is her ninth great-great grandson (that's right, all boys) and a tenth is on the way.

So, here are a few pictures of Jack and family. He's smiling a lot more these days and is beginning to actually prove that he does indeed have neck muscles.

This is Jack with his great grandma.

Jack and his great-great uncle.

Jack lounging.

Jack and his great-great grandma (seven weeks and ninety-five years).

Five Generations.

Who Does He Look Like?

2008-10-04T13:33:00.005-04:00

So, we started digging up some baby photos of Stacey and me so that we could compare and see who Jack looks most like. First the photos of Jack, and then us. Below is a place to vote.
_____________________________________________________________

Jack at 11 days.

Jack at six weeks.

Stacey at one week.

Stacey at three months

Adam at six months.

Adam at year and a half.

____________________________________________________________

Some random photos...

2008-09-24T16:33:00.007-04:00

Well, there hasn't been much going on in Jack's world lately ... just the same old "eat, play, nap, repeat" schedule. He did spend some time with his Grandma Roundtree last week while Adam & I went out to dinner. (Thanks, Sue!) He also met some more of my family and Adam's family in the past couple of weeks. And tonight he'll get to go meet his friend Caroline, who was just born this morning! Anyhow, here are some photos I thought were cute:

lovin' the bouncy seat

working something out

giving me the "crazy eyebrow"
(which reminds me of his Grandpa Bouse every time is raises)

enjoying tummy time

hanging with Daisy

so calm & happy during a bath

That's it for now... Jack has begun his 2nd month of life, so surely there will be some exciting things coming up. I have a week and a half left of maternity leave, so maybe we'll have some adventures to write about shortly :)

Stacey enters the blogging world

2008-09-12T09:15:00.009-04:00

Hey Everyone! I, Stacey, am new to this world o' blogging, so I won't be quite as entertaining as Adam...but I did want to update everyone on some events in Jack's world since his 1st trip to church:

Jack attended his 1st Fantasy Football draft (and slept right thru it)
Jack sported his 1st Colt's outfit (which brought NO good luck to the team)
Jack took his 1st trip to Grandma & Grandpa Roundtree's (and, again, slept right thru it)
Jack attended Marriage Group with his folks-and received a stuffed Garfield which he LOOOVES! (Thanks, Ferrises!)
Jack attended Small Group and received lots of love from his parents' friends
Jack realized there is a dog in the house

Jack having fun on his playmat

Jack and Daisy

Jack and Garfield

Check out those dimples!

Our big boy - holding up his bottle!

This has nothing to do with Jack, but I thought that it was
awesome when I found Daisy like this one afternoon.

First Trip to Church

2008-09-01T14:04:00.005-04:00

Jack's First Video

2008-08-30T22:48:00.005-04:00

This kid is adorable. And we think he's even more adorable in person than in the pictures. So, for those of you who haven't been able to see him live and in the moment, here is Jack's very first video. Granted, the video quality isn't awesome by any means, but he yawns, sticks his tongue out, and you can even spot his dimples a few times!

There are also a few pictures of Jack and his mama (she is looking and doing great!). And Daisy (our dog) came home last night, too!

More Visitors, More Pictures

2008-08-29T21:28:00.003-04:00

Things are going along swimmingly. Jack had his best night of sleep last night, only waking up twice (for feeding) and right back to sleep almost immediately!

We've had some good times with friends stopping by, including the fact that folks from church have started delivering meals every other night - what a huge relief and blessing!

So, here are a few more pictures from our friend Jill. And also, our good friend Jayne (who is an amazing photographer) came over and did a photo shoot with us and our boy. We should see those pictures in the coming weeks. Get excited.

(We need to get more pictures of Jack and Stacey together. Though, a good portion of the time they spend together would be awkward/inappropriate to photograph and post on the internet.)

Visitors and Pictures

2008-08-26T19:14:00.004-04:00

Well, just thought everyone might like to see a few more pictures of Jack. We can't stop watching him, even though he does little more than eat, sleep, and poop. Although, he was wide awake and looking around for about an hour today.

We've had some visitors the past few days - we love showing him off. And look forward to showing him off more. And he had his first bath at home today.

Stacey, Jack, and her Grandma

It's fun to watch little kids interact with babies. Louie Rohlfing thought it was fun to tickle Jack.

Adorable, right?! It looks like he was smiling, and even though he wasn't, let's pretend that he was.

Another Day, More Pictures

2008-08-24T18:39:00.003-04:00

Just thought I'd share a few more pictures from today. Everyone is doing well.

Home Sweet Home

2008-08-23T21:21:00.005-04:00

Just wanted to let those of you who've been wondering, we did make it home today around 2pm. We've settled in, eaten some good food (thanks neighbor Molly!) and had a few visitors. Everything is still going really well; Jack didn't need to do any more jaundice treatment.

So, we're going to sleep now, for a few hours and, again, want to thank everybody for their support, encouragement, and prayers over the past few days. It's clearly just the beginning, but we're feeling pretty good right now.

If anybody wants to visit, don't hesitate to call and see how we're feeling - we are pretty excited to show off our baby boy.

Last Day at the Hospital

2008-08-23T09:30:00.005-04:00

Well, we've made it to our last day in the hospital. Yesterday (Friday) was very eventful. Blood tests and 'snip-snip' and visitors. Jack also had to go "under the lights." Like a good portion of babies, he was a bit jaundiced, so they put him under the bili-lights. The doctor's goal was to not have us take home a bili-blanket. I'm pretty sure we're going to hit that goal and should find out in the next hour or so. With his lights, his crib was described as a tanning bed or his first disco party. But he has been so good and content most of the time and the nurses have been very impressed with our little guy - let's hope that lasts.

(this is the logo on the machine. hilarious.)

He's doing much better at feeding and Stacey is feeling better and continues to become more and more mobile. We are pretty excited to get home, to dress him in an outfit and let him swing and things like that. And to sleep in our own bed (even if its only for two hours at a time). Now we are just waiting for Stacey's doctor and Jack's doctor to do final evaluations and then we'll be heading home, sometime midday.

Just Seems Like Yesterday

2008-08-22T12:47:00.003-04:00

It just seems like he was born yesterday!

Well, I haven't updated in a while. Mostly because we've been tired and busy and tired. But we are doing just fine.

We stayed in the delivery room up until noon yesterday because there are so many babies being born and they didn't have an open room for us. We then moved into a "semi-private"room, which means we had a room mate in a small, uncomfortable space. But then, after twelve hours there, we were moved into our present situation, a palatial private room fit for a king (well, maybe not that nice, but compared to where we came from...)

Here are a few pictures from yesterday and today. Jack had his first bath, his nails trimmed (he was scratching his face off), and plenty of adorable moments (which are much better in person). We have managed to get around 3 hours of sleep so far today, since breakfast. So, things are looking up.

We'll be leaving tomorrow around lunch time, assuming nothing changes. And if you need/want to visit, we are in room 4105.

One Night Down...

2008-08-21T07:38:00.004-04:00

So, we've made it through night number one.

Jack is doing great. And Stacey is in recovery mode, on some drugs and dealing with some comfort issues, but overall feeling content.

Apparently there was no room in the inn for us last night (a busy baby night).
So, we are still in the delivery room, which is comfortable enough for now. We'll move to our postpartum room as soon as someone else leaves. Which means we may want to hold off on visitors until then, mid morning or so.

Again, thank you to everyone who cheered us on and offered prayers. It was an amazing experience for both of us and we will certainly never forget it. We certainly appreciated that all of the parents stayed until they could visit, which was 3am (putting them in the waiting room for some 7-9 hours!!!).

(Adam's mom and Jack)

(Stacey's dad and Jack)

Arrival

2008-08-21T01:51:00.001-04:00

Jack Weston Bouse

August 21 2008, 1:00am

7lbs. 15oz.
22 inches

Standby

2008-08-20T23:45:00.000-04:00

Still pushing...

A Picture Post

2008-08-20T21:58:00.006-04:00

(Translation: Stacey is at 10cm. It's time to start pushing.)

Sound Effects

2008-08-20T21:28:00.003-04:00

The machines in this room make it seem like you are playing a video game.

After her blood pressure is taken it has the sound of "Game Over." When she hits her epidural/Jeopardy button for more pain medication, it sounds like a bird chirping. How pleasant.

We are just now coming to the end of our three-and-a-half hour "Baby: Down" playlist.

The nurse is going to remeasure at 10:00. See you then.

(p.s. it's very exciting/encouraging that you all care so much and continue to watch and take part. we really do appreciate it, silly as it may seem)

Nine at Nine

2008-08-20T21:00:00.002-04:00

9:00=9cm

The 9th Hour

2008-08-20T20:30:00.003-04:00

Stacey was feeling a bit of a headache and a little shaky, so our third nurse of the day offered her a feast!!!

(I think that it sort of looks like she is sticking her tongue out in the picture, even though it's just the popsicle.)

As you can see, a feast at this point is merely a strawberry-lemonade popsicle (with real fruit!).
We're still hanging in there and laughing along the way. As the nurse went to get the feast, I asked Stacey if she even asked what flavor she'd like. No was the answer. And in unison, we replied: "Anything but grape!" Our kid is going to have great taste.

Progress

2008-08-20T19:31:00.003-04:00

Jack is turning; "A whole lot better than he was."

And we are up to 7cm.

New Stage

2008-08-20T18:35:00.003-04:00

Recent checkup:

5.5cm dilated
100% effaced

The nurse has Stacey in the "Reverse Flying Sleeping Panda" position now. Still trying to get him to turn over for us.

We've shut the TV down for the time being, put on the "Baby (Mood:Down) " playlist we created.

So, things are quiet and (hopefully) restful for the time being. We will check back in when something changes.

Hurry Up and Wait

2008-08-20T18:05:00.003-04:00

Well, nothing major to report.

Stacey is pretty stinking numb where she ought to be. Amazing what modern medicine can do.

Jack, apparently, is still face up. So they have her laying in some positions to encourage him to turn over. I call the position right now, "Flying Sleeping Panda."

We'll have another measurement at 6:30 - look for another post shortly thereafter.

Drugged Up

2008-08-20T16:49:00.004-04:00

Alright, the epidural is finished and fast acting!

We've got a confirmed 5+ cm dilated (on our way to 10). She has a little push-button that she can use any time the pain rears its unforgiving head. Hopefully she doesn't have to use it too much.

The nurse did say, "I think you've got a pretty big baby in there." Most of us know better, that it's more likely to be a huge head like his dad. Time will tell.

Stacey just suggested that we start taking bets on time of birth.
And despite the number of IV's running into her and the poor lighting, she looks as beautiful as I've ever seen her. That maternal glow is kicking in.

The next update will probably come with the next dilation check.

Bonus: Here are some images related to centimeters.

Inching Up...er...Centimetering Up

2008-08-20T15:32:00.001-04:00

Welp, the epidural has been ordered and Stacey is at 4 1/2, almost 5cm.

Monitors

2008-08-20T14:45:00.004-04:00

Alright...still nothing major to report, but there's progress.

As the photo on this post may show, we've moved past the point were Stacey is feeling particularly photogenic. Her contractions are definitely picking up in intensity and regularity (good job medicine).

No news yet on further dilation. They'll remeasure when pain medication enters the picture.

So far, we've watched some Olympics, two episodes of Home Improvement, and one episode of Monk, where ironically, there was a scene with the main characters at a museum, going through a "miracle of life" exhibit - including walk-through fallopian tubes and birth canal. Oh, the irony!

Gotta go. Massage and ice chip time.

Picture: The top is Jack's heartbeat. The bottom has to do with contractions, but doesn't show intensity.

Still Smiling

2008-08-20T13:05:00.005-04:00

No major updates yet.

The doctor seems pretty excited to get things going, so Stacey just started a Pitocin drip to encourage along contractions and whatnot. We'll see how that works for us.

For now, Stacey is still all smiles.

Bonus: Can anyone spot lunch in this picture?

Okay, Get Excited!!!

2008-08-20T11:54:00.003-04:00

Welp, we are at the hospital!!!

Stacey's water broke this morning around 10. She was at work, in the midst of a conversation. I, too, was at work in Indy. She called saying, "My water broke. It feels gross. I am going home to get stuff and then heading to the hospital."

So, I truly got to live the experience of the mad-dash drive up from Indy. We won't say specific speeds or times, suffice it to say that I made it in record time. And I didn't miss a thing.

Her doctor at the Voss Center checked her: as of 11:15am she was 3cm dilated and 90% effaced (for those of you who know what those things mean).

And now we are all cozy, watching Olympics and blogging.

We'll keep you posted.
Here we go!!!!

Don't Get Excited

2008-08-17T21:16:00.009-04:00

Hey everyone. Don't get excited...we're not heading to the hospital. Yet. Tomorrow is the due date, but we may or may not have any excitement tomorrow. You should know that Stacey's doctors have told us that they won't let her go past a week overdue (not from concern, just their policy). Stacey recently took some pictures of Jack's room and we thought we'd share for those folks who haven't/won't get a chance to see it any time soon. It's nothing fancy, but fun to share.

So, here are a few pictures. Let this hold you over - and get ready because we're going to have a kid some time, most definitely, within the next seven days!

Bonus Story: Tonight, as Stacey was doing some cleaning and housework (nesting?), I heard a big thud and crash. I was in the living room and so, in the caring and compassionate way that I usually boast, I went dashing to see what happened. Now, it's important to remember that our dining room has a wooden floor. And I was wearing socks. So I did my best Tom Cruise, unintentionally, with less grace and more clothes and crashed to the floor myself. Took the skin clean off my knee.

But as it turns out, a card table had been knocked over. Stacey was fine.

Baby Bouse

2008-07-24T19:13:00.005-04:00

Hello everybody. Stacey and I decided to setup a blog so that folks who want to can follow along as we welcome our baby boy into the world.

Everything is going wonderfully, though there are the usual aches and pains. We are very thankful for the support and gifts we have received and most everything is in place as we anxiously wait for the big day. We are now less than a month away: August 18th.

There probably won't be posts until right around the day he decides to come along. Since the hospital is Wi-Fi, we'll be able to provide updates as things progress (but obviously, my first job is to massage her back and feed her ice chips).

So, check back at your leisure and get excited about our impending boy, Jack Weston Bouse.

(This is Jack around 22 weeks.)