Just a little update

Well, for once I can't think of anything to blog about! So, I guess an update on life it is.

Let's see. Jake is just Jake. He's into anything he can mess up. He's also very into approval and praise. He's very easy to teach things to, at the moment. I'm not sure if this is just the next stage of development, or if it's like a spurt of knowledge gathering. Either way, he learns a new major something each day. He learned to sign "please" one evening at dinner. And I taught him to nod his head. Which is super hilarious. It's like a slow motion nod. He's verrrrry good at shaking his head no. :-/ Maybe too good! So, I decided he needed to learn something else other than no. :) This child of mine LOVES to play outside. LUH-UH-UHVS it! He will stay outside for HOURS and still get upset when it's time to come in! I get overwhelmingly bored with the back yard, so we've been taking walks, going to parks, and frequenting the zoo. Have I mentioned how much I love living in an area that is close to a zoo?! It rocks.

Jake and I went to the zoo this week, with my friend from elementary school, Alex and my old co-worker, Trisha and both their boys. Fun!

I have been working extra recently. I'm saving up for a trip to New York next month! I am so super stoked. I can hardly contain my excitement at times! It's a girls only trip. Those are THE best. If you've never taken one, it is so necessary! For me, anyway. This same group took a trip in November 2007 to Cancun; that trip was the best trip EVER! We had SO much fun!! Our group ranged from young 20's to senior citizens! And trust me when I tell you, it is THE best group of girls to travel with!!! This time we'll range from teens to senior citizens. I can't wait! My two favorite girls in the world are going too, my sister, Chelsea and my best friend, Tana. It has been said that the proper authorities need to be warned about our visit. ;P

This is where we all met up. :) Half of us are from the Tulsa area, the other half are from Northwest Arkansas!

goofing off at a rest stop

at the resort on a night where a lot of fun was had!

we made it to texas! :)

The whole group at dinner. In the front L-R Heather, Gail, me, Charlene, Grandma Rose. In the back L-R Tana, Krystal, Judi. Everyone is either related, or really good friends. :)

Derick is busy being a guy. He's always doing something in the garage or yard. And every evening since the purchase of his beloved PS3, he has been playing war games. The funniest part about that... he uses Jake's miniature chair! It's so funny. I'll post a picture, so you can have an idea of the silliness. He says it makes an awesome gaming chair...

excuse the fact that there are cords everywhere (that were supposed to be fixed already... ahem), dog toys on the table and floor, and zero decorations. focus on the adult in the baby's chair. :)

Well, that should do it for an update! Happy Wednesday, friends!!

Jakenese

Jake at his Aunt Brooklin's wedding. Pretty snazzy little fella!

This child of mine... man, if only I could understand what it is he's saying! When he first started this crazy babbling, and by crazy babbling I mean not just the little goo's, ga's, ma-ma's, da-da's, ba-ba's that he started saying months ago, no this is really silly, made-up sounding words... I just thought they were random sounds. But they aren't! They are his words and he uses them! I've compiled a short list of the ones I've been picking up on. These are "words", or speech sounds, that are repeated throughout the day. I've noticed that they are spoken at certain times of the day, or places. So, I'm assuming they might mean things to him. Most the time these "words" are tucked inside of "sentences" of more crazy sounding words. These are just the ones I have been picking up on in the past few days. I'm trying to figure out what they might mean to him.

When the dogs are around he says "duh-WYE". I assume that it's his version of "doggy".
He says, "tuh-kwat" or "tuh-kwad". I have no idea what that one is yet. It's new.
"zig-WAH" or "sig-WAH" that's a new one as of this morning. He's said it over and over.
"sick-UH, sick-UH" no clue what that is.

It is AMAZING to listen to a baby learning to speak. I can't imagine how his mind must be growing daily! It's also crazy how much he understands or what he knows he should not do. Man, they just get more and more fun and smarter... every day!!

He follows commands, points out body parts, he says "shoo" when he dirties his diaper. All these things are language based and it means my baby boy is growing up!

I'm adding a video where he says a version of "tuh-kwad" at the very beginning. At the end he says a form of the "sig-wah". The rest is random stuff that's just cute to listen to.

This last video is just some cute little jibber-jabbering that I love to listen to. :)

Whirlwind!

Holy Canoly!!! We Pickles have been super crazy busy! I feel like I'm in the middle of a whirlwind of busyness! I could hardly see straight there for a while, we were so busy! And it continues this week. I am picking up a lot of extra shifts in the next few weeks during a co-worker's time off. So, I'm gonna feel like a full-time working mom! Crazy.

I had JBF the weekend before last. That wore me smooth out. Got some good deals. And I checked tonight, looks like I did pretty good selling my stuff! Then we were sick. I sounded like a man. It was definitely interesting. I still have a nasty lingering cough and Jake still has yucky snot. I am so ready for it to make its exit!

Can I just say how incredibly blessed we are that we have not one set, but TWO sets of awesome parents that are willing to keep Jake for us while we work?! Granted, I don't work like a "normal" parent does... I do have a set day that I work every week that my mom is accountable for Jake on that day. And then all the other random days that I throw in there, Derick's mom covers. Pretty awesome, right? I'd say that Jake Pickle is one lucky little dude!

I am going home (FS) this weekend, and I'm so excited to be spending the weekend there! I haven't spent a weekend down there since I moved back to BA. Funny how the parentals start coming my way more often now that there's a grandbaby in the picture! Anyway, I'm hoping to spend time with old friends and family this weekend. I'm really looking forward to it.

This PAST weekend, Derick's sister, Brooklin, was married. The wedding... simply stunning. It was at the top of most beautiful weddings I've ever seen. And I'm not just saying that because it was family, or because the bride is a model. lol It truly was amazing! My favorite part-they released doves during the ceremony! Well, actually my most favorite part was my little ring-bearer boy. :) Jake was a ring-bearer along with a little boy that Brooklin nannies for. She nannies twins; a little boy and a little girl who are about a year older than Jake. They are precious. The plan was for all three to ride in a red wagon down the aisle together. The twins had other ideas and were not pleased with Jake being in the wagon with them. So, an impromptu decision just before go time, and Jake was headed down the aisle hand-in-hand with his big girl cousins, Maggie and Emily. Check it out!

Cute as all get out, right?! What a big boy!

 Well, I am definitely up WAY too late. We have another busy day tomorrow. Headed to my favorite place, Goodwill, when we get up. They got a new shipment in earlier today, so they should be freshly stocked tomorrow. Pretty sure I'm going to make a post one day of all the amazing things I find there! Then we will be visiting my old work place-where I plan on taking a surprise to my sweet former co-worker friends :) just before we head to Jake's vaccine appointment. :(

I totally stole this from my mother-in-law's facebook. They're a pretty couple, huh?

Happy Tuesday, friends!! Make it a good one!