Mother and Son

My sweet boys.

June 2013

-Mason-

photo credit: Lianne Barr

June 2010

-Jacob-

I am the mother of two fantastic little boys. They are so much like eachother. Both easy, sweet, mild-mannered, snuggly, and don't forget chubby. As they grow I hope that we can teach them to be men of God. Chivalrous, kind, respectful, good natured, helpful, light hearted, sensitive to other's needs. When we found out we were having another boy I was not sad at all. If we are going to have all boys, how lovely for us. Also how lucky for their future wives because we are going to raise the best husbands ever, because they have a fantastic example.

photo credit: Lianne Barr

This willing band of brothers were by their mothers taught

To trust in God continually, be true in deed and thought,

For God would then protect them; their faith He would reward.

They did not doubt their mothers knew; they trusted in the Lord.'

Infant Pictures

My wonderful sister, Lianne, brought her kids up from Florida to visit us after Mason was born. It was so fun to see them! I've made that drive and I'm so lucky that my sister was willing to brave it with all three of her kiddos.

While Lianne was here, she was sweet enough to take pictures of Mason for us. Here are some of the pictures she took.

We had such a nice visit with those guys. Miss them!

(More photos from that session later)

Summer

My Jacob loves to be outside. He could spend hours out there doing black flips down his slide into the pool, creating a HUGE mess in his sand table, flying kites, cashing butterflies. You name it. He's in. 

(Love our huge backyard, by the way)

Water Table. Such a Big Mess but totally work the hours and hours that he spends out there

#thiskidisgoingtokillhimself

This year we grew herbs (Basil, Parsley, Cilantro, and Spinach) and tomato plants. I had awesome salsa, pesto and marinara sauce from scratch. So easy and ... delish.

Our baby basically slept the summer away. Okay by me!

He also started smiling :)

We also drove to North Carolina to the Gillespie Family Beach Reunion. 

We stayed in two huge beach houses right on the beach. 15 Adults and 22 kids. Oh my.

It was so much fun! Kind of crazy with an 8 week old but fun. This Florida girl missed the ocean so much! Thanks to everyone who held my baby so I could splash around in the waves like a crazy person.

The whole family 

Grandbabies
 (You have no idea what we had to do to get this picture)

Hello, my name is...

Mason Ambs Gillespie

19 June 2013

09:21 a.m.

8 lbs 6 oz

[BIRTH STORY] After a third trimester full of contractions, I thought for sure I would have this baby before my due date. Well, my due date came and went. We tried everything (walking, spicy foods, pumping, etc) and nothing. No baby. Doctor was worried baby wasn't growing so we decided to go for the induction. 

After getting checked into Labor and Delivery and being monitored for a few hours, I was given the pitocin  around 3 a.m. By 4 I was having regular contractions. Those pitocin contractions are no joke! I labored until about 8 a.m. when I got my epidural (I wanted to wait a little longer but by the time they gave it to me I was ready. Thanks for pushing me towards getting it, Jake!). Doctor came in to break my water around 8:30. I was at 4 cm and officially in active labor. My epidural had kicked in and was working great. About fifteen minutes later I was feeling nauseous so the nurses checked me. I was now 7 cm. By 9 a.m. I was at a ten and ready to deliver. I was very numb from the epidural. After a few easy pushes baby was born at 9:21 a.m. He was 8 lbs 6 oz. A nice, big, healthy boy. (Apparently he was growing, he was just very very squished) I couldn't believe it happened so fast! Here is our little Mason's first day...

Lanie and her Jakes

As we wait in anticipation for the arrival of our new baby boy (which could literally be any minute now) I keep thinking about my sweet little Jacob. He is such a gift to me. As a baby he was quiet and calm. As he grew he became sweet, wonderfully curious, fantastically happy and just the right amount of naughty. He puts his little heart into everything that he does and I have to admit I love that about him. I love this little guy so much! We have been Lanie and her Jakes so long it is definitely going to be an adventure adding a new little personality in the mix. Moving forward to the next chapter!

(My Jakes)

Jacob just turned 3!(So glad we didn't have a baby on his birthday) All of a sudden he is such a big boy. Good thing we're about to have a baby because he is definitely not a baby ANYMORE!

Side note...Jacob got this book for his birthday from his Nana. See the resemblance? hahaha.

Sweet Home Alabama

Well folks we've been in  Alabama for almost ten months and I'm just now going to blog about it.. First of all, let me tell you how NOT fun arriving somewhere new with everything you own and not a clue where your going to live is. I guess that's the military. Well, it was certainly a crazy 10 days... house hunting, staying in different temporary lodging and hotels. It was one of those situations where your only choice is to trust that the Lord will provide. We ended up renting a BEAUTIFUL house in a small town outside of Montgomery. As annoying as it is to drive at least half an hour to anything you could resemble civilization, I LOVE the fact that on my drive home I pass cows, water towers, fields of white cotton and people sitting on their porch drinking lemonade. I wasn't exactly thrilled when we first heard we were moving to Alabama, but we have been so happy here and I must say that it does feel a lot like HOME. There is something about that feeling of HOME that gets me all giddy inside and fills me with an overwhelming sense of security.


A lot of things have happened over the past few months. So here's a little photo dump for you.

Our little one is getting so BIG

 

We celebrated some holidays!

Our big new is that we are having another BABY BOY 

Everyone keeps asking me if I'm disappointed that we're having another boy this time but I can honestly say that I am ecstatic! I am loving the fact that my life is going to consist of water fights, bunk bed forts, and Saturday Sporting events. All the girls better watch out for the Gillespie Boys!

A Musical Treat

Just a short video of my cute boy singing to his bunny.

This boy loves music. As an infant, when all else failed, all I had to do was sing to him and he would instantly quiet down and fall asleep. Over the past two years his tastes have varied and I have to be a little more creative with my song choices but he still loves it. For me, it is my favorite part of the day. Jacob will whine and cry because he doesn't want to go to bed but all I have to do is ask him what song he wants. He gets all excited and says something like "THE RAINBOW SONG!" and immediately nuzzles my neck and strokes my hair while I sing to him. He always asks for more songs. Always. Every night. Lately he has been singing along with me (talk about melting my heart).

Fun in the Sunshine State

Jacob and I had so much fun in Florida! Everyday was a different adventure.

Jacob absolutely adored my Mother. He'd run through the house saying "Grammy, Grammy, Grammy!" He went through so many changes there. He went from walking to running. Being hesitant on the ground to climbing the steps and going down the slide all by himself. He went from one or two word phrases to full out seven or eight word sentences. He is definitely not a baby anymore. It makes me very sad but I will say that I loved being able to chat with him now. Even though the conversations are simple, I love that my little one can tell me what he is thinking and how he feels about it. 

This trip was fun for me as a parent because it was the first time that Jacob actually wanted to interact with other kids. He loved everything about my sister Lianne and her three sweet kiddos. He would beg me to go to "Auntie Liannie's house". As I unbuckled him to go in he would run to the door and snuggle the first person he saw and when it came time to go home he would cry and run away from me. We miss those guys so much!

This is a picture from one of my favorite nights. If you don't already know, I am a movie theater junkie! My absolute favorite thing to do is to go to the theater to see a great flick and eat theater snacks (popcorn, snowcaps, slushy, reeses pieces...I am not a cheap date, as my husband can tell you). On this particular night, my sister Ana and I went to see the re-released TITANIC in 3D IMAX. To get ready for this event we sang and car-danced to Backstreet Boys and N'SYNC the whole way to the theater. AND THE MOVIE...amazing. I am a Titanic fanatic (and will forever have a major crush on Jack). I personally cried for the last hour and a half of the movie. 

(Jacob reaping the spoils of the Easter Egg Hunt)

There were so many things I loved about visiting Florida. Spending time with my parents and siblings. Talking and baking with my sister Lianne. Going shopping and staying up late with AnaBanana. Spending everyday with my wonderfully patient mother. Laughing with my Dad. Getting to know my Grandparents on a whole new level. Wednesday afternoons with my Gammy, going out to lunch and chatting on her couch while Jacob napped. Visiting my Grandma Ambs and having to convince Jacob that we had to go home because he didn't want to leave her house. Girl Nights with my girlfriends and talking for HOURS. Seeing old friends. Thanks Florida! You sure made my time there sunny.

Airman Gillespie

Jake is now in the United States Air Force. On February 14, 2012 he left for Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. While there he earned his Expert Marksmanship ribbon (which unbeknownst to me, is a huge deal) and graduated with Honors. Earning all four ribbons, my man really stood out among, not only those in his flight, but of all the airman graduating there. I am so proud of my husband. He not only survived but passed with flying colors. He is so amazing.

We have temporarily been stationed at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio while Jake attends technical school (School of Aerospace Medicine -Health and Safety). I have rented an apartment about fifteen minutes from the base. During the week Jake has to sleep in his dorm at the base but he is allowed to come home for the entire weekend and have dinner with us most week nights. It is actually working out pretty great. Since I don't get to see him everyday, when he does come home I make the special effort to have dinner cooked for him and make myself look pretty (I may even go as far as to shave my legs. Now that's real effort). Today was one of those days were Jake couldn't come home so I am happy to say that I stayed in my yoga pants and T-shirt all day and Jacob and I had left overs for dinner. 

Jake has received his official duty assignment. We will be stationed at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. We report in August. 

(The photo was emailed to me by the missionary couple in Jake's ward at Lackland Air Force Base, It is from the first week of basic training. I can't believe I didn't take any pictures of our reunion with him. I guess I was too busy hugging and kissing him to remember the camera in my bag. I might also add that he looks really handsome in his fancy Blues, which I have seen him in exactly one time now. I really wish I had taken a video of the first few seconds that Jacob saw his Daddy again. Jake walked up to him in full uniform and Jacob (not phased at all by the difference in appearance) immediately ran into his arms exclaiming "DADDY!" and hugged and hugged and hugged him. Our baby boy wouldn't let go of him the whole weekend. He is such a Daddy's boy. I absolutely love it.)

A brief Step into the World of Single Parenting

On February 14th, Jake and I got onto different planes, at different airports, headed for different destinations. Little Jakey and I were headed to Florida to visit my family while Jake was off to Texas to start his BASIC MILITARY TRAINING. As we said goodbye, Jakey was screaming, Jake had tears running down his face and my entire face had gone splotchy and red. Two weeks proceeding this event, I had been on an emotional roller coaster, every moment filled with dread. As I carried Jakey back to the car after kissing Jake for the last time for two months, I kept telling myself "People do this all the time. I'm just as good as those people. I can be strong. I can do this... by myself?" GULP. On the airplane I made a pact with myself, I was not going to be miserable for two months. I just wasn't going to allow myself to do that. And you know what? I survived. Sure, I only got to talk to Jake once a week for 15 minutes. On the positive side Jake and I did something that has gone out of style in our technologically advanced world... we exchanged hand-written love letters. In many ways, the separation bonded us, made us grow closer. Most importantly though, it gave us both a stronger appreciation for one another. For two months, I was a single mother. Or I guess I should say, I had to walk in a single mother's shoes. I couldn't counsel with my husband and ask him his opinions. There was no strong arms around me at the end of the day assuring me that I'm a good mother.  (Granted I was living with my parents and was surrounded by wonderful people that I loved all day long. I feel so blessed that I was able to be with them). For two months I pretended to be tough and do you know what I found out about myself? I actually am kind of tough. I learned so much about myself those two months while Jake was away but may I also just say I AM SO HAPPY TO HAVE HIM BACK!

Christmas..in May?

In case you are wondering, I do in fact, know that it is now May but I couldn't resist posting this picture. When Jacob was seven months old, he could say three words...Mama, Dada, and BALL. This picture is my son in a nutshell..shirt untucked, sleeves cuffs unbuttoned, hair stuck to his sweaty forehead and a ball in his hands. As many of you know, I do NOT play sports. Mostly because all through my adolescent years I was a too tall, bean pole. But trying to be a good Mommy, I have stepped out of my comfort zone and tried to be more athletic for Jacob. We spend our days running around the neighborhood, learning important skills like how to kick, dribble and throw a ball. I am proud to say that my own skills have improved. It just reminds me of how much being a mother has changed me and has made me a better person.

 I once read that if the question "Am I a good Mother?" keeps you up at night, then you are one. That statement gives me a lot of hope. It is sometimes overwhelming to know that you are molding a future for a little life by the small and simple things you do. For me, right now, the small and simple things are walking down the street hand in hand with my son, looking for an adventure or reading his favorite book over and over and over again, or even just singing that extra lullaby before bedtime.

Time Out for Women

Last weekend I went to time out for women with my mom, sisters, aunts, cousins, and friends. Time out for women is a women's conference organized by my church.They have music and inspirational speakers. It was so fun! We laughed, we cried, we ate. Hilary Weeks was there. She was so amazing. She didn't perform this song last weekend but I saw her perform it a couple of years ago and it is still my favorite. 

It was such a great weekend! 

Visitors for Thanksgiving

Several of Jake's siblings and their families came into town for Thanksgiving! It was so fun to see everyone. We had such a good time. Here is Elisabeth and Jacob taking a bath. I got to spend a lot of time with Elisabeth this trip and let me just say that I absolutely LOVE her. Who couldn't be charmed by those big brown eyes and full cheeks?

We went into the city one morning to go up the Hancock Observatory and eat real Chicago deep dish pizza. 

The Gillespies have a really fun tradition for Christmas where everyone wears matching pajamas to bed on Christmas Eve. This year we continued the tradition on Thanksgiving. The kids were so excited about their new jammies. 

These are most of the Gillespie Grand-kids (minus 6) These cuties rang from the ages of 3 months to 8 years old.

I am so grateful for my family. I really missed my Ambs family this Thanksgiving and I hope to see them soon but I loved being with the Gillespies. Even though I'm still one of the newest editions to the family everyone has really taken me under their wing and I love each one of them. This week I especially loved snuggling and and playing with my nieces and nephews, going on walks, seeing vampire movies, watching BBC mini series and eating lots of treats with my sister-in-laws, and going to the Chicago Temple with Jake's brothers and their wives.

A little Duckie Halloween!

Here's our little Duckie on Halloween. I tried to teach Jacob how to say trick-or-treat but it was gibberish to everyone except Big Jake and I. We also practiced trick-or-treating so he actually did really well. 

This year we went to the Church and did the Trunk-or-Treat and then on Halloween night we went around the neighbor and did a little Trick-or-Treating.

Happy Halloween!