Weekend with the Grandparents

We always enjoy having visitors! Neenah (Grandma Pierce) and Bumpa (Grandpa Pierce) came over to Portland for the weekend. We had a great time just playing with Jalen, going for walks, and visiting. Thank you Pierces for also helping tame our jungle of a yard. We attended Gymboree where Jalen showed off his skills - he's certainly getting more active! The next day the guys enjoyed a day of golf while the girls (and Jalen) went shopping. Thanks for a nice weekend!

Neenah and Jalen playing at the Cafe.

Of course everything goes in the mouth.

Jalen thought this particular shoe was so interesting - he spent the longest time just fiddling with it.

This is a really cool shoelace.

Jalen found a new friend Ruby - yet he was mostly concerned that she was going to take the ball he wanted.

Jalen and Neenah

I got it!

Determined to get the bell at the end of the wavy bridge.

Hi Neenah!

9 Months Old

Our little boy is growing up SO fast and we are loving every second of it!!! I love that everyday he suprises us with a new skill or reveals a little more of his sweet and silly little personality. What a blessing we have!!!

Watching Daddy do yardwork.



"Hmmm...what am I hungry for."






Jalen is so much more interactive at Gymboree now...I was impressed to see him climb up the little ramp.




Jalen follows Rio EVERYWHERE around the house and gets so excited to see him wait at the door. He's trying to give him a kiss through the window - they are becoming best buds.

Our future basketball player.

Happy Easter!

We had a very happy Easter weekend! Grandma Kellie and Auntie Ari came to visit from Wednesday to Saturday. Jalen was so lucky to stay home all day with Grandma and Arianna on Thursday and I took the day off Friday. We had a nice time shopping, playing with Jalen, and just visiting. We introduced them to the famous Portland Voodoo Doughnuts...where you can find the oh-so-healthy maple bars topped with beacon, glazed doughnuts topped with Froot Loops, Voodoo Doll shaped cream bars, and any other crazy combo you can think of.

Jalen's daycare had an Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday. He loved seeing all his friends and finding eggs on the playground, especially since we found one of the prize-winning eggs. However, he was less than amused by the Easter Bunny...a little scary for him :-)

While Scott enjoyed watching March Madness games with some friends, I went to a birthday party for my friend Stacy. We ended the day with a lovely dinner at Jim and Joan Reed's (Amy Reinke's parents). It was quite the experience with three active babies at the table (7 to 20 months old). Thank you Reeds and Reinkes for always including us as your extended family!

Easter service on Sunday was wonderful. We then enjoyed a delicious brunch at our house with Cousin Steph, Cory and Chris and Catherine Walter. Thank you all for joining us...we are blessed to have you all in our lives.

The fam after brunch.

Jalen with Cory and Steph.

Thank you Catherine for the nice Easter gift!

Happy Easter Baby J!

"New bowls...just what I always wanted."

"Do I eat from this too?"

"Mmm...Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Pierce for the Easter card - it tastes delicious!" (we loved the wonderful Easter baskets too - Thank you!)

"Oh, I see one!"

"I'm a big boy and can do it myself."

"Look Mommy - I got one!"

"Uhh...my basket isn't full yet...let's keeping hunting."

"Ohh - I love Easter Eggs Hunts!"

Little Bunny J.


"...But don't you dare get me next to the real thing."

Spring Break

We started our Spring Break with a trip to Palm Desert where we met Neenah (Grandma Pierce) and Bumpa (Grandpa Pierce). The weather was absolutely perfect and we had a great time just being with the family. Skip and Scott got some good golfing in while Neenah, Jalen, and mom enjoyed shopping (well, as much as Jalen would let us do). We went to the living desert at the perfect time of day, so we were able to see most of the animals being very active. We spent the latter part of the week just being at home - hanging out with friends, enjoying playdates with Jalen's buddies, trips to the park, baby music time at the library, and just lounging around together. Oh - it's so hard to go back to work after a long break!

We discovered how much Jalen loves to swim.

Joe-Cool in the pool.

Gotta love all the chub-a-lubs.

Smiles for Daddy.

Jalen and Mommy taking a morning swim.

A beautiful morning with breakfast on the patio.

Jalen and Daddy.



Once Jalen woke up he loved watching everything go by at the Living Desert.



You can't really tell from the picture, but there is a one-week old giraffe in the background, with his mother in the top right watching him closely.

Bumpa and Jalen at the Nelsons.

Jalen thought Bumpa was pretty funny.

Play Dates

When Jalen was first born, we met a wonderful group of moms and babies at the hospital's "Mommy and Me" groups. Since then, it's been great to watch all the babies play and grow up together. We are fortunate to have Joanna and her son Logan living just down the street, so we often get together for impromptu play dates after work. Here are a few pictures of Jalen's recent visits with friends.

Best Buds

They're like a heard of cattle coming in for their feeding.

Logan will carry around that ring in his mouth for hours - it's hillarious.


Jalen is 8 months in this picture and Logan is 10.5 months...reminds me of what a big boy we have.

Having a little chat.

We love playing together!

Ava, Jalen, Logan, Aspen, Colton, and Gina - most of the gang re-united.

The Leap Frog activity table is always the hit of every play date.

8 Months Old

I can't believe our little guy is already 8 months old! He's moving around like crazy and getting so adventerous. We are loving this stage and having so much fun watching him explore!

Playing with bubbles

Rio and Jalen are becoming pals

Rio thinks it's time to play

How does he seem to find every little piece of dirt in the house?

Taking a break from the "long" walk down the hall.

Jalen and his buddy Aspen.


Taking center stage

Playing with his buddies Aspen and Connor.

Swinging at the park...one of Jalen's new favorite things