Meeting the Horners

These Horner’s are a rowdy bunch I tell you. Upon our 10:30 a.m. arrival to Sunbury, Ohio, this group had already managed some serious damage to a jug of wine - but we knew this would be a fun weekend.

We arrived to the tiny farm town Saturday morning and navigated our way along the dirt roads to a beautiful home plopped smack dab in the center of five wooded acres. In the back - a clearing with a beautiful pond and swimming pool.

Here’s the painful irony- it poured almost all.day.long. Goodbye pool time!

Somehow, it ended up being just as good, dare I say even more fun?! We learned so much about Tyler’s grandma’s family. We watched videos from their childhood and listened to stories about growing up on an Ohio farm. The videos… oh the videos. I would have gone just for that. We watched the little boys driving tractors, “what?! He’s like, 5!!” and “the girls are playing in dresses!” and “look at them playing in that pond!”. Today a 5 year-old driving a tractor would make the news, and we’d be told not to ruin that dress, and there’s God-knows-what in that pond, get out!

There was something so magically simple about these silent videos. Moments from a different time, a different, more simple world, captured.

Scattered across the US and now in their 70s and 80s, it is so wonderful these siblings make it a priority to still see each other. This time, we were honored to be a part of it all.

This group is rowdy, and they’ve earned the right to be just as rowdy as they want. The Horner’s sure know how to show a little family from the city a good time!

Surprise!

Why do I react like a blubbering fool when surprised?! My amazing sister surprised me last week- and once again, I was totally caught off guard. How do I never have even the littlest inkling that something is going on, that something is coming?

My parents and Tyler, heck probably everyone BUT me, knew that Katilin was coming to surprise me for my birthday and, more importantly, meet Jackson for the first time. There have been texts and calls, and even a slip up by my mom, and I suspected nothing. Either this family is dang good at planning surprises, I am super non-observant, or a combination of the two.

Dangit, they get me every time!

Thanks for the best birthday surprise ever Kaitlin and gang. This was one for the record books J

We've Gone Country

Country Concert 13. We went. We conquered. We survived.

This concert was the real deal. Hicks from every nook and cranny of ‘merica travelled far and wide. Thousands ascended on farm town USA: Ft. Loramie, Ohio. They set up their tents, their campers, and their baby pools. They pulled out their coolers, their cowboy hats, their boots, and their belts.

We had FUN. We set up camp between two families (all with grown children), and settled in. We spent the day listening to country, people watching, and attempting to beat the heat. It was hot. Stupid hot. Jackson was such a trooper. He ended up in only a diaper and we tried to keep him cool by spraying him down with a water bottle regularly. Eventually, Tyler and my dad took him back to the car to cool him down in the air conditioning. It was THAT hot.

Jackson was the center of attention, as he tends to be. I don’t know if there were any other babies there (responsible parenting?), but plenty of strangers approached us, asking politely if they could snap a photo of Jackson in his cowboy hat, exclaiming things like, “so cute!” and “good for you!”. I’m sure everyone has their own opinions of taking a baby to a concert, but I assure you, we took all necessary precautions (protective earphones anyone?!), we had a blast, and look, he survived!

We left before Brad Paisley finished and the concert ended- I’m just pretty certain the mass chaos of people who have been drinking all day in the staggering temperatures leaving a concert is not something we want Jackson to be anywhere near. So we safely made our way out well in advance, and Jackson’s first concert was a total success.

I guess we all have a hillbilly bone down deep inside, huh?

 

 

The Most Important Thing

Family really is the most important thing. Family can certainly mean different things for different people, but the people who love you unconditionally, who would do anything for you, who will be there no matter what; those are the ones we must treasure. We must hang on tight.

My family visited this week, and it was wonderful. It was wonderful to spend precious time with them and even better- seeing them with Jackson. My parents have always been incredible parents. Their example of love, commitment, hard work, and dedication has molded me into the person I am today. They have always been there. I know they always will be. To see them as grandparents fills my heart – we are so lucky to have such love in our lives.

Jackson is already surrounded by people who love him endlessly. He has a support system that extends well beyond Tyler and I, and I know that wherever he turns in this life, whatever road he wanders, he’ll be met with open and loving arms.

As always, living in a different state means our time with family is much too short. We try to savor every last moment, and take in as much as we can.

To the people who keep us firmly grounded and never waiver in their love, we owe everything.

 

4 Months

Some exciting stuff happened in month 4, Mr. J! You smile SO much. When you wake up, after you eat, when we change your diaper, when you’re in your swing, when you’re in your carseat, when you see our faces… you love to smile, and it absolutely melts us, over and over again.

Other equally exciting and big accomplishments we’ve seen this month include rolling from front to back, rotating on your play mat or in your crib, and grabbing at things. I think they call this the beginning of the end. Before we know it, we’ll be following you everywhere, and attempting to keep things out of reach and out of your mouth.

You’re also super-duper observant. If we hold a colorful book or magazine up, you’ll stare at it for a long time. Mobiles and fans are also captivating right now. I can’t help but wonder what’s going through that little head of yours. You have also noticed how awesome the TV/iPad/iPhone are. Lights? Colors? Sound? You’re in. We try to focus your little eyes elsewhere, and you’ll settle on books, toys, or even our faces.

You’re cooing and oohing and aweing all the time. You flirt with a bunny on your swing. You are in love with that little bunny, and I’m pretty confident you sit there and tell her all about your day.

We are in awe of the way you have flipped our lives inside out and upside down in the most incredible way. You’re teaching us so much about love and life, and we’re cherishing every moment.