This will make you ROFL...says Matt.

Christmas Tree Hunting

Here are some pictures of Jeremy's first Christmas tree hunt. This one is him telling us he is ready to go:

and him all bundled up and looking adroable as always...

At first he thought it would be good to get a Jeremy sized tree:

He THEN found the PERFECT tree for us!

Then he thought it should be his job to supervise the removal of the tree...

Jeremy telling daddy to grab the tree so we can get it home...

The morning ended in Jeremy helping pick out the PERFECT decorations.

All in all...the PERFECT first Christmas Tree Hunting day. It then all ended in a big nap (for Jeremy that is).

Merry Christmas Tree Hunting Day!

Halloween 2008

Jeremy had a great time celebrating his first halloween. We went to Grandma and Grandpa's house and helped pass out some candy! Jeremy even got his first taste of candy, sort of....I wouldn't take the wrapper off!

At the Pumpkin Patch!

We went to the Pumpkin patch...and again, he is too cute not to share with all of you.

Just Because He Is Cute

Here are some cute shots. I just can't get enough of this little man!





Here are

I can feed myself!

Jeremy is getting so independent. We been working on eating solids, but he is no fan of Mom putting a spoonful of goop into his mouth. However, if we give him the spoon, he sure has fun trying to get it there himself!

His favorite foods so far: Cheerios, Apples and Peas (the real stuff...not the pureed crap!)

This will make you ROFL

nuff said...

Who's TV Addiction

One of Who's many favorite things to do NOW INCLUDES...watching TV.

His morning TV favorites include: Doodlebops, Baby Einsteins, The Wiggles (yes...i didn't know there was going to be anything WORSE than Barney as far as kid shows go), and Mickey's Club House.

His afternoon shows...well...i have no idea as I am not here in the afternoons, but I fully assume that he is watching mommy's shows with her. For better or worse.

His evening TV, well...he LOVES American Idol. Outside of that, I don't think it matters. To go to bed, he loves watching TV with mommy which includes epic TV mini-series and the Food Network.

I really think he is going to be as bald as daddy as we all know that watching TV leads to male pattern baldness.

Our Texas Vacation Pics

Mommy and Linda

Juju and Who

The Texas Zoo Family Pic

Tell me you wouldn't post this picture...

Daddy and Who

We went down to see our family (yes, we consider them family) in Texas at the end of July. Here are some of our pictures...and Jeremy's favorite place, the pool.

Early Morning Bouncy

Jeremy has had some issues with waking up EARLIER than normal this week. On this day, he wanted to get into his bouncy seat and wore himself out.



No, I didn't let him sleep out there. His legs were cold, so he got out and napped with daddy.

The Mommy Game (the sequel)

So, we know the results of the first mommy game. I just saw this video today and thought that we should update you that mommy is still his favorite thing in the world.

This video has the now famous bouncy seat that Jeremy can't get enough of AND combined with mommy...Who has no option but to go crazy.

WE CAN'T WAIT FOR TEXAS!

We are going on vacation at the end of July to see all of his adopted family in Texas. As you can see from the picture above...Jeremy has no idea who these people are, but he likes them already!

Jeremy is a fish

Yup...here was the first swim of the summer. He is a natural fish. When we are around water, it can be bath time or the gutter display at the fair, he is ready to go.

Jeremy is rolling!

You will all be glad to know...at our small group meeting on Monday, Jeremy hit a huge milestone. HE ROLLED OVER!!!

We are convinced that he did it to show off. Yup, he is a stud.

(Mommy and Daddy are proud)

(**of course...it is still crazy to know that we ARE mommy and daddy**)

MOTHER'S DAY!!!

You will all be happy to know that for MOTHER'S DAY, Jeremy HOOKED MOMMY UP with a Vera Bradley bag. Yup...daddy and Jeremy know nothing about purses. But, what we did know is that is what all the cool mommy's are sporting these days.

Here is mommy posing with her new bag and her favorite baby boy in the world.

Jeremy has good taste.

Seriously...the first thing that went into the purse? Diapers and wipes.

Favorite Parent Game

So...let's be honest. Jeremy knows who his mommy and daddy is. But ever since he was born, it has been obvious who he likes the most. While mommy is by and far Jeremy's favorite person/thing/place/etc that has ever existed, daddy likes to think that he is up there as well. The movie proves what that is all about.

I am going to go to my emotional safe house and crawl up in the fetal position for a while as I sob my emotional state back to a level of happiness.

Try not to smile at this clip. :)

Park Day

So if this was a MYSPACE or EHARMONY, the following would say:
NAME: Jeremy Hartke
AGE: >1 year (but mommy is older than daddy...so age doesn't matter)
INTERESTS: Mommy, Milka (mommy's only), hearing my own voice, Mommy, my sunglasses, Mommy, and Daddy in that order.
HOBBIES: Milka, Mommy, walks in the park, and "urping on myself and mommy as we walk in the park and I pick up chicks".


We spent the afternoon having a family walk in the park. All the ladies in the park couldn't stop talking about how cute he is. To end the day...

yup...

Jeremy was out.

He had a tough day, and an early night.

Snowball loves Jeremy

The funny thing about Snowball is, LATELY whenever Jeremy cries, she has to come and see what is going on. I was looking through the different videos I found this one. She has now adopted Jeremy and wants him to know that she is there for him. When he cries, she will lick his face to tell him it is ok. When she sees something of his, she will make sure that she rubs on it to let him know she is there when he needs it.

As long as she doesn't try to feed him...we are ok!

(and don't try to pet her when she is rolling on Jeremy's blanket)

Jeremy makes his first political statement

So, officially yesterday Jeremy was able to make his first political statement by joining the party of BALD IS BEAUTIFUL. Yup...I have told him since he was born that chicks dig the bald guys. With the Hartke family hairline, I am proud as a father that he has embraced his future.

Rock on Jeremy...rock on.

Jeremy says HI!

Jeremy was in a one of his talkative moods while mommy was in school, so we thought that we would record a message for everyone. Now...Jeremy has gotten to the point where he is talking (only in language that mommy and daddy understand), but he sometimes gets camera shy as you will see.

So, HEY from all of us!

NINJA JEREMY!

Ok...it has been a while and I (Matt) have been catching flak for not updating this. Sorry...things have been busy. BUT you will be happy to know that Jeremy's favorite thing to do in daddy time is to play Ninja Jeremy. It is fast becoming a requested game by those students in the Youth Ministry as Jeremy displays mad punching power as well as a ridiculous amount of stealth as he can sneak in through unlimited cuteness to attack his prey without being seen as a threat. He is already a champion as you can see by his gloves. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

He's too cute not to share!

Jeremy has gained a COLOSSAL 1.5 pounds and has grown a full inch over the last week! As you can see from the pictures...it is quite possible that he broke the cuteness scale when weighed.

After much anticipation and the plethora of questions about when Jeremy will make his public debute in cold Indiana, the date has been set! Jeremy will be baptized on February 10th after the 10:45 service (and Grandpa can do it!). The countdown is on...and now it is time for a diaper change.

Much love!

M&M&J

CLEAN!

Today was the big day...BATH DAY!!! After a good breakfast, Jeremy didn't know what to think about his new bathing experience. So what did he do? He had to think about it. Jeremy didn't cry ONE TIME. The trick to this new miraculous method of parenting perfection you ask?

A SPACE HEATER!!!

(Mommy had to strike the Jeremy pose after it was all done)

Thumb sucking and the first night...

Not real sure what to make of this...but, apparently Jeremy is part of the whole NEW AGE thumb sucking techniques. I (Matt) have learned that I am old. Where are the days of the "ball up your fist and stick the thumb in your mouth" method gone? Apparently, I have a lot to catch on to.

First at home night in the books. Was restless for the first half of the night. He didn't want to sleep in the cradle, so Misty took him to the family room where he slept on mommy for a couple hours. When Matt WOKE UP (fell asleep at the first feeding) and took Jeremy to the family room, he went to sleep for about 4 hours (after screaming for the first 30 minutes...but that was a test of will. Jeremy is already playing games with my emotions).

So...any advice out there on what Matt is supposed to do other than falling asleep on Misty as she feeds Jeremy? Problem is, after i fall asleep...i don't hear Jeremy scream for a couple hours unless I am holding him. Any dad (or CONSTRUCTIVE *aka* "not make fun of Matt because he snores"...chick) advice out there? Hook a brother up...

(Jeremy is still ridiculously cute)

Homecoming and siblings

We FINALLY were sent home on Wednesday (at about 4:30 in the PM). After much anticipation, Jeremy was introduced to his brother and sister. Tiger was curious, but not curious enough to care(still doesn't). Snowball...well...she wasn't all that excited about the whole screaming, attention grabbing, bundle of something smaller than her. She wasn't impressed.

Later on, Matt was able to hold Jeremy for a while. When Snowball saw this, she made her statement as to WHO was daddy's favorite. I haven't had the chance to talk to her yet...so that conversation will have to wait with Snowball.

(Snowball says hi Alli)

JEREMY!

Jeremy Wade Hartke made his appearance on Monday, January 14th at 2:09am weighing in a 6 pounds, 15 ounces and measuring 19.5 inches. He is very strong (doc said so...but Matt was standing behind him so could have been due to intimidation) and is CUTE! Yup...we were worried about having the "not-so-cute" baby. But we didn't...he is officially cute!

Mom is doing well. In some pain, BUT she is one to stay on the legal drugs WAY before the pain hits. Jeremy and mommy had a rough night of getting used to the feeding frenzy...and the father figure slept through most of it (*edit...Misty says snoring) (**edit...Matt wants proof) (***edit...Jeremy has no comment)

Thanks for the prayers and love!

M&M (+J)

38 Weeks!

38 Weeks today! Due date is only 14 days away, so really...we just wait! I started feeling significantly larger a few days ago, and now comparing this picture with last weeks picture, I think my shape has definitely changed about. I don't feel like Jeremy has dropped though, but something sure is different!

37 Week Belly Shot

Here is 37 weeks exactly!! I don't have anything exciting to add to this post, as I just posted the nursery pictures. Sorry.

Nursery Pictures

The nursery is complete! Here are some pictures I took to share. As you can see...Winnie the Pooh is the theme.

I'm not sure of the style we are achieving as we have light brown, medium brown, dark brown and white furniture. But, we used what we had and the crib was given to us by a friend. That sure helps on the cost of things!

Matt and I bought the glider last night using money that people have been giving us. The box wouldn't fit in my car though, so we had to stand out in the parking lot in the freezing cold, opening the box and putting all the separate parts in my car. It was pretty funny.

Today we also undertook the task of installing the car seat. To our dismay, the convertible car seat will not fit in my car in the rear facing position. Matt and I are too tall and have to have our seats back, and that didn't allow for the baby seat to recline to the proper position. So, well use it when it's time to face forward. So we went back to the store today and got a car seat with a base and installed it instead. My bags are packed for the hospital, so I guess all we need now is our baby!