Jared's been pushing himself up like this for awhile, but now it's getting higher and for longer periods of time, plus I think he's enjoying himself now!!What a perfect poser!!!
A day at the beach - I think he looks like a Newfie fisherman with his hat turned up like that!
First time in a lake/pond - maybe not so much fun!!
Cooling off with Daddy using the mist from the garden hose - completely loving it!!

Here are some more pictures for all to enjoy. Jared is getting so much more independent. He has his cuddley times, but there are definitely times when he just wants to be left alone in his swing or bouncy chair. And he is constantly pushing himself away from me when I am holding him, trying to see everything. It's great, but sometimes a bit scary, because he'll do it all of a sudden and I have to react fast to catch him from falling backwards, if I don't have two hands on him. And he talks so much, just babbling away and giggling and smiling. Sigh. I love him so much, I can't even describe it. I'd always pictured myself with daughters, I guess because I am a girl, and not that I didn't want sons, it just never occured to me in my younger years that I might have one first. And now I have a son. My oldest child is a boy. And I wouldn't want it any other way. There are times when I still can't believe it - he was growing and kicking inside of me! I would talk to him and push on him and try to figure out what that part was and he would push back and kick - that was all HIM!!! And he will grow up to be a man. And I am responsible to make sure that I give him the best upbringing I can to ensure that he grows into the best, most God-fearing man he can be. I am so thankful that I don't have to do it alone, because I have an amazing husband who loves us both terribly and wants the exact same thing for Jared as I do, and together we have God to look to for everything we need in this journey. Many times I have told God that Jared is completely His, that I need Him to tell me how to make wise decisions, because, I'm really new at this! And that I am so thankful that He has entrusted this precious being to Ryan and my care because we really are not worthy. And I think about how much I love him, and how much MORE God loves him - how can that be? How can anyone feel more love than I do for Jared? It's such a weird thing, because I love Ryan so passionately, and yet it's such a different love. I grew to love him, but with Jared it was just there. I loved him all along. What a gift. How can people throw that gift away? How can people kill their unborn? How can people neglect and abuse their children? How God must weep. I know since Jared was born that I have, many times, for those innocent lives. No wonder we have troubled teens and messed up adults - can we expect anything else? So I pray in earnest that I will be so careful and so wise in my parenting. A little life is at stake.